Cost-effectiveness and ecological performance of direct seeding to compose arrangements in biodiverse agroforestry systems

Abstract

Abstract Deforestation of primary vegetation and degradation of pastures in Brazil has presented alarming numbers in recent years, which demonstrates the emerging need for environmental recovery strategies such as agroforestry systems (SAFs). Thus, the objective was to adopt a low cost technique such as direct sowing to compose spatial arrangements in SAFs in consortium with different agricultural crops and fertilizers, as well as to evaluate the cost-effectiveness. In the experiment, 23 native species from adjacent fragments were used. The treatments were formed by combining 2 sowing densities (5 and 10), 2 fertilizers (bovine manure and poultry litter), and 2 agricultural crops (watermelon and pumpkin). The seeds were arranged in a planting furrow measuring 2m in length, 10 cm in width and 5 cm in depth, spaced 2m apart and 2m between plots. Each treatment consisted of three repeat, and each repeat with 2 planting furrows. The use of direct seeding is a promising technique to increase species diversity in the composition of spatial arrangements of SAFs, especially if combined with organic fertilization and cultivation of agricultural crops, which has proven to be a profitable alternative to reduce restoration costs, can be completely amortized in a second cycle of cultivars, because until the establishment of the tree canopy of native species, the cultivation of agricultural crops can be a source of income to the farmer and ensure their food security.