Soil fertility and pasture productivity in a Grevillea robusta silvopastoral system

Abstract

The "silver oak" is an Australian native tree species that was introduced in Brazil to shade agricultural species and forages (agrosilvopastoral systems).The aim of this work was to evaluate the silver oak effects on the soil fertility and the Brachiaria brizantha productivity in a silvopastoral system located at Arenito Caiuá geology, Tapejara, Paraná State, Brazil. Seven equidistant places were selected between two tree lines, with four repetitions. In these points it was collected the forage (winter and summer) and the soil and litter samples in the winter. In the sandstone region named Arenito Caiuá the silver oak litter is a very important source of organic matter and nutrients to the soil and it also promotes the the dry matter production, the increase of N and K contents of the forage, mainly in the summer.

doi: 10.4336/2012.pfb.32.69.53