Pasture Restoration of the Pantanal by Seed Bank and Introduction of Native Forage

Abstract

Many non-flooded areas on poor sandy soil of the Pantanal are in degraded status or in process of degradation. In degraded status, the resilience is lost requiring the introduction of forages. This study aimed to recover degraded natural pasture of the Nhumirim ranch, Nhecolândia sub-region, MS, with the introduction of two species of grasses: “grama-do-cerrado” (Mesosetum chaseae) and “grama-tio-pedro” (Paspalum oteroi). Both species were planted by means of seedlings harvested on the ranch in early January 2016. The design was completely randomized with four replicates. At the end of March 2016 and 2017, the percentage of cover of key species, other plants, forage mass (kg DM / ha) and percentage crude protein (CP) were evaluated. It was observed that both species dominated the soil cover in the first year and remained in the second year. There was a significant difference in forage mass between years, but not between species. “grama-do-cerrado” was higher in CP in both years and the “grama-tio-pedro” presented more uniform cover on the ground. The other plants, some forages cooperated with the soil cover, showing that both species have great potential for recovery of these areas. Among the species, the “grama-tio-pedro” showed more uniform cover on the ground.