Factores que influenciam a regeneração natural de florestas em áreas abandonadas pela agricultura itinerante em Pindanganga, Distrito de Gondola, Província de Manica

Abstract

This study was carried out in July 2003, in Manica Province, Gondola District, Pindanganga Locality. 20 plots of 20x20m were established in 20 abandoned fields, with fallow ages between 1-5 years, containing 2 sub-plots of 4x5m. In these subplots, regeneration was inventoried, the distance that separates the machambas from the seed source and soil sample, to know the influence of these same factors on the regeneration of abandoned machambas. Soil samples were later analyzed in the laboratory. Information about the fallow period and cultivation period of the machambas was provided by the owners of the machambas themselves. From the data collected it was verified that for regeneration it is very influenced by the fallow period and by the period of cultivation of the machambas. The optimal distance for regeneration to occur is in the range of 12-36m, although regeneration occurs in the other ranges of distances. The results of the soil analysis show that the soils in the study area are poor in nutrients and have an acidic pH. These same results showed that fallow machambas soils do not affect forest regeneration. The data collected showed that the relationship to the diameter, there are many individuals of small size and few of large size, most of the small individuals belong to the diameter class inferior to 5 cm, that is, they belong to the class of regeneration not established. A total of 16 families and 39 species were inventoried and three of these species remained unidentified. The fallow period of the machambas influences the abundance of species and the longer this time, the greater the number of species found. The most dominant species are: Brachystegia spiciformis, Diplorhynchus condylocarpon.