Botanical composition of grassland according to the amount of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. trees in Carrizal-Chone, Ecuador

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J. A. Roca
Maryury Zamora
Yesenia Zamora
Miryam Félix

Abstract

The effect of the amount of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. trees was evaluated in the botanical composition of the grassland in a cattle system of Carrizal-Chone region, Ecuador. Three tree amounts were used as treatments: low (1-4 trees/ha), medium (5-8 trees/ha) and high (9-12 trees/ha), distributed in a completely randomized design. A covariance analysis was applied to the variable final botanical composition (2014) in which the initial botanical composition (2012) was considered as covariate and tree amounts (3), species (5) and their interaction as the effects. A variance analysis was applied to the changes in the species coverage from 2012 to 2014, in which tree amounts (3), species (5) and their interaction were
controlled. In both analyzes there was a highly significant effect (P˂0.001) of the interaction. The highest percentage of population was shown by the Megathyrsus maximus grass (saboya) at the high tree amount (45.7 %). In the latter (9-12 trees/ha), Megathyrsus maximus, Cynodon nlemfuensis and creeping legumes species predominated, to the detriment of other grasses and broadleaf plants. With the level 9-12 trees/ha, the greatest increases in the coverage of saboya species (5.1 %) and creeping legumes (2.2 %) were achieved. Other grasses and broadleaf plants reduced their
cover in all treatments. It is concluded that with 9-12 trees/ha of Prosopis juliflora, the botanical composition of the grassland is improved, by increasing the coverage of the most important species in the cattle systems of Carrizal-Chone, Ecuador.

Keywords: trees/ha, herbaceous cover, Megathyrsus maximus, silvopastoral

Article Details

How to Cite
Roca, J. A., Zamora, M., Zamora, Y., & Félix, M. (2020). Botanical composition of grassland according to the amount of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. trees in Carrizal-Chone, Ecuador. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 54(1). Retrieved from https://cjascience.com/index.php/CJAS/article/view/945
Section
Pasture Science and other Crops

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