Estimates of above-ground biomass and nutrient accumulation in Mimosa scabrella fallows in Southern Brazil
Naturally regenerated stands of bracatinga (Mimosa scabrella Bentham) are harvested for firewood after six to eight years of unregulated growth, debris burnt and the area planted to one cycle of intercropped maize (Zea mays L.) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Burning breaks dormancy of bracatinga seed (> 80 percent germination) marking the onset of a new fallow-crop cycle. This production system has been practiced for nearly 100 years in Southern Brazil, covering some 60,000 ha in 3,000 small farms. An estimation of above-ground biomass and nutrient accumulation was made using literature data on stand age, population numbers, tree sizes, tree biomass partitioning and concentration of major nutrients in tree tissues. A simple simulation model, used to quantify above-ground nutrient pathways and their temporal dynamics, confirmed that six to eight years is the optimal rotation length. Biomass and nutrients deposited onto the soil, peak at stand age six years, which may result in significant soil fertility improvement prior to crop planting. At year six, estimated total above-ground biomass amounts to 83 Mg ha-1; 44 Mg ha-1 available as firewood and 39 Mg ha-1 to be returned to the soil. Roughly half the amount of nutrients fixed in the above-ground bracatinga biomass would be exported in firewood and subsequent grain crops.
Main Authors: | Somarriba, E. CATIE - Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba, Costa Rica, Kass, D. CATIE - Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Turrialba, Costa Rica autores/as |
---|---|
Format: | biblioteca |
Language: | eng |
Published: |
Amsterdam (Países Bajos): Springer,
2001
|
Subjects: | MIMOSA SCABRELLA, CULTIVO MIXTO, PHASEOLUS VULGARIS, ZEA MAYS, AGROFORESTERIA, REGENERACION NATURAL, BARBECHO, ACLAREO, CONTENIDO DE MATERIA SECA, AGRICULTURA TRADICIONAL, NUTRIENTES, SUELO, SIMULACION, BRASIL, |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010670313385 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Traditional fallows in Latin America :
by: Somarriba, Eduardo 120490, et al.
Published: (1999) -
Experiencias con barbechos mejorados
by: 53268 Camero Rey, L.A., et al.
Published: (1995) -
Sistemas tradicionales de barbecho de las Américas
by: 122676 Szott, L.T., et al.
Published: (1994) -
Deposição de matéria orgânica e nutrientes por bracatinga (Mimosa scabrella Benth.).
by: CARPANEZZI, A. A., et al.
Published: (1984) -
Amelioration de la Production Energetique et Alimentaire dans l'Agriculture Traditionnelle de l'Etat du Parana, Brazil. Resultats preliminaires et perpectives
by: Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria, Curitiba (Brazil). Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Florestas oth
Published: (Nov )