Control of competitive plants in ecological restoration

Abstract

The riparian areas currently concentrate most efforts to restore forest in Brazil. Since there are no laws to regularize the use of pesticides in these areas, the dilemma to use or not herbicides in the restoration of riparian vegetation is present in most projects, especially those that rely on the Payment for Environmental Services relating to the recovery of native vegetation in watersheds of importance for public supply. If by one side the use of glyphosate on these projects increase operational efficiency and reduces costs in weed control, on the other there is a risk of contamination of soil and water, which opposes to the principles of ecological restoration. The objective of this study is to evaluate silvicultural aspects and potential pollution of soil and water associated with the use of glyphosate in the restoration of riparian forests. The experiment will be conducted in a Riparian Area Preservation at the Centro de Experimentos Florestais da SOS Mata Atlântica in Itu, São Paulo, where will be demarcated plots of 20 x 30 m, with the planting of 100 seedlings of 35 native species each. There will be tested two treatments for weed control by mowing or addressed application of glyphosate. The evaluations will be in economic order (maintenance costs), forestry (growth of seedlings planted in height, canopy cover and stem diameter) and pollution potential (analysis of glyphosate and its major metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid, in the soil and in the runoff water by ELYSA tests).