The survival and growth of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. and other introduced species in the matorral of northeastern México
The region of the coastal plain of the state of Nuevo León, México, is characterized by a low tree-shrub vegetation type defined commonly as "Matorral mediano subinerme". This type of Matorral is composed of almost 60 woody species, of which several are used for agroforestry purposes (firewood, fodder, fence posts, etc.), but heavily altered in structure and composition by anthropogenic activity: the selective cutting of certain species, the overgrazing by cattle, or total clearance of the vegetation by heavy machinery and burning for agriculture, orchards or pasture. The gradual decrease of the Matorral productivity has led to an unfavourable economic situation in the affected farming communities ("ejidos"). With the intention of enriching the Matorral the adaptability of ten introduced tree species was tested: Gliricidia sepium, Crescentia alata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Caesalpinia velutina, C. eriostachys, Pithecellobium dulce, Albizia caribaea, A. guachepele, Myrospermum frutescens, Haematoxylon brasilleto. The seeds of each species were subjected to different pretreatments, the seedlings grown in plastic bags and then planted out in a cleared area in a deep loamy-clay, slightly alkaline Vertisol. The tubestock was planted out by hand in august 1985 at the commencement of the second of the two annual growing seasons. The seedlings were well developed and laid out in plots of 49 plants each in a 2 x 2 m spacing. After 20 months, preliminary results for Gliricidia sepium can be presented. The species has demostrated surprising growth in both height and crown diameter, but is also susceptible to frost, especially in the spring during or shortly after bud break. Although frost diminishes height (drying of shoots and twigs), the regenerative capacity of G. sepium makes a quick recovery in height and crown diameter possible. The low mortality of this species, as well as Pithecellobium dulce, Caesalpinia eriostachys and Albizia guachepele, couupled with their high reproductive capacities, suggests that these species may serve to enrich the "Matorral mediano subinerme" of the region, especially for silvi-pastoral purposes.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
Honolulu, Hawaii (EUA), NFTA, 1987
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| Subjects: | ESPECIES EXOTICAS (PLANTAS), CRECIMIENTO, GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM, MEXICO, |
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