Evaluación de prácticas de siembra para la reforestación con Morella pubescens en zonas degradadas en el Área Protegida Comunitaria Tambillo

Abstract

Areas degraded by forest fires can compromise the well-being and socioeconomic development of the surrounding populations; therefore, reforestation, when properly carried out, contributes to the recovery of ecosystem functionality. Traditionally, reforestation programs in South America have used non-native species, due to their availability and productivity, to the detriment of local species. Reforestation with native species is crucial to restore degraded ecosystems and counteract deforestation through a careful choice of species and planting practices that contribute to the initial success of planted forests, facing great challenges, such as low seedling survival. The objective of the study was to evaluate planting practices to reforest with Morella pubescens in a degraded area of the Tambillo Community Protected Area located in the parish of San Miguel de Cuyes, canton Gualaquiza, province of Morona Santiago. Acclimatized, non-acclimatized (both in containers with soil) and bare root treatments were used and monitored for five months to evaluate the growth rate, survival and costs of each method used. The statistical analysis used was an ADEVA with post hoc least significant difference (LSD) test, which showed differences between treatments (p< 0.05) for growth. For survival, the bare root treatment presented the lowest rates (60%), compared to the other treatments T1 and T2, with 100% and 95%, respectively. Regarding costs, bare-root planting presented an average cost per plant of $4.52, followed by T2, with a cost of $8.31 and T1 presented the highest values with a cost of $16.31/plant