LITTER-SOIL SYSTEM ENRICHMENT WITH TREE SPECIES SUITABLE FOR DISTURBED LAND RECLAMATION

This study evaluated the behavior of an organic soil-litter system seeded with native species with implications for revegetation of disturbed lands. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and on benches exposed to open sunlight at the Research Nursery of the Department of Forestry of the Universidade Federal de Vicosa (UFV). The inventory identified 508 individuals, out of which 38 species were identified, belonging to 34 genera and distributed among 22 families. Evaluation of both introduced seeds and seed bank did not show any differences in germination for the environmental regimes tested. Seedling growth for species originating from litter and topsoil propagules and for species inserted for enrichment was greater under shade. Unfertilized soils had a higher percentage of germinated seeds than fertilized soils. Fertilization was shown to be fundamental for seedling growth. Hence, results demonstrate improved efficiency by enriching a seed bank and confirm the potential of this technique for revegetation of disturbed lands.