Firewood and forage production from Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L. P. Queiroz subjected to annual pruning

Abstract

Some woody species of the caatinga have the potential to produce high quality forage at a low cost. Its leaves and thin branches can be foraged in the field or supplied as hay if they are collected in the rainy season, period of food abundance, to supplement the diet of the animals in the dry period of the year. Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L. P. has a high potential for forage production. The objective of this study was to evaluate forage production of P. pyramidalis according to the pruning intensity of its fine branches in two consecutive years, the effect of prunning on DAP and accumulation of woody biomass, and on the herbaceous forage produced under and outside the canopy projection. The study was carried out at Fazenda Lameirão, Santa Terezinha - Paraíba state, Brazil. Fine branches were collectect from 20 adult P. pyramidalis according to five pruning intensities: T1 = 0%, T2 = 25%, T3 = 50%, T4 = 75% and T5 = 100% of the fine branches. The average forage production ranged from 2.19 to 7.07 kg.tree^-1 (DM) in 2016, and from 1.33 to 2.41 kg.tree^-1 (DM) in 2017. The production of the herbaceous forage was higher under (1.60 t.ha^-1) (DM) than out (1.07 t.ha^-1) (DM) of tree canopy. Pruning of fine branches does not affect the accumulation of woody biomass nor the herbaceous biomass production. Forage from P. pyramidalis fine branches and herbs showed to be suitable to animal feeding.

Keywords:
Plant biomass; Catingueira; Dry forests; Forest management