GROWTH OF THE HYMENAEA COURBARIL AND LEGUMINOUS TREES IN DIFFERENT SPACINGS, IN DEGRADED AREAS

The use of pioneer plants, mainly nitrogen-fixing leguminous trees, associated to the secondary and climax species, has been making possible good results in the land reclamation. However, it is important to establish the appropriate spacing among the form species obtaining a fast covering and protection of the soil, without there is strong competition of the plants for light, water and nutrients. So, the objective of this work was to evaluate the growth of the Hymenaea courbaril and leguminous trees at, in system quincux, in different spacings. The treatments, in factorial scheme 3 x 3 with three replicates, corresponded to three species of pioneer leguminous trees (Acacia mangium, Senna multijuga and Leucaena leucocephala combined with Hymenaea courbaril) and three spacings among pioneer plants (4 x 2; 4 x 3 and 4 x 4 m). After one and two years of planting determined the height, stem diameter at ground level and crown diameter of pioneer plants and Hymenaea courbaril. Acacia mangium showed growth characteristics superior to those of Senna multijuga and Leucaena leucocephala, however, no influence of spacing between species in relation to these characteristics. The growth characteristics of the Hymenaea courbaril were not influenced by pioneer species associated, however, the denser spacing between the pioneer species favored the greatest increase.