Jamilly de Assis Marques

The growth of technical–scientific knowledge is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of endangered species, particularly given the limitations in information about high-performance seedling nutrition. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) have strategic advantages in terms of nutrient use efficiency and less need for reapplications. However, their use in the production of native forest seedlings is still little explored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of applying CRFs in different doses on the growth and quality of cedro-rosa (Cedrela fissilis Vell.) seedlings, aiming to identify more efficient fertilization strategies in nurseries. The seedlings showed 100% survival at 150 days. The absence of fertilization resulted in limited growth, while increasing doses promoted significant gains. The dose of 16 g L⁻¹ provided greater height and leaf area, while 8 g L⁻¹ was sufficient for gains in diameter and robustness index. There was an increase in dry mass and chlorophylls, although stabilized at higher doses, suggesting physiological limits. Doses of between 8 and 16 g L⁻¹ of CRF are promising to produce cedro-rosa seedlings, combining gains in growth, quality, and physiological efficiency, making it a viable and sustainable alternative.

Soil chemical analysis is a fundamental to achieve optimal cultivation conditions in a productive silvopastoral system, essential for the planning and management of this activity. The objective of this research is to map the spatial distribution of nutrients in the soil in a 5-year-old silvopastoral system composed of brachiaria-brizantha and jacarandá-da-bahia, and to analyze the effect of tree density and canopy on nutrient levels. The study was conducted at the experimental area of the Capixaba Institute for Research, Technical Assistance, and Rural Extension (INCAPER) in the district of Pacotuba, ES. The delimitation of the work area was done using geographic information systems, to create a regular grid of points to enable systematic soil sampling. A total of 75 disturbed soil samples were collected at depths of 0-0.10 m to obtain quantitative soil nutrient data. High-quality images obtained using a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) allowed for the overlay of soil nutrient data, pasture data, forest inventory data, and sample plot data to assist in comparative analyses. This enabled identification of the areas with lower canopy development, particularly in the northeast portion. By cross-referencing the spatialized soil nutrient data with the data obtained through RPA, it was possible to correlate them with the lower or higher development of the system. The use of RPA, together with a georeferenced database, proved to be an innovative and powerful tool to support decision-making, allowing for the monitoring of system evolution and serving as a basis for evaluating the relationship between chemical elements and tree canopies.