Competitive Capacity of Hymenaea courbaril with Green Manure, Forage Species and Weeds

The study of intercropping between annual and perennial plants is an important tool in the process of forest implantation and management. The objective of this study was to assess the competitive capacity of jatoba (Hymeneae courbaril) against green manure, forage and weed species, regarding the allocation of dry matter, leaf area and nutritional content. Two experiments were installed and the treatments consisted of combinations of jatoba seedlings per plot, alone or under competition with each one of the following plant species: Brachiaria humidicola, Brachiaria brizantha, Brachiaria decumbens, Panicum maximum, Cajanus cajan, Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna aterrima (experiment 1) and Bidens pilosa, Cenchrus echinatus, Euphorbia heterophylla, Lolium multiflorum and Solanum americanum (experiment 2), plus the cultivation of each weed or counterpart alone. After 60 days of intercropping, the plants were collected to assess dry matter, leaf area and nutrient accumulation. Competition between the plant species did not promote any changes in jatoba dry matter production and leaf area of jatoba. Thus, the competitive capacity of jatoba is not affected by the green manure and forage species, at its early phases of development. A positive effect on nutrient accumulation by the weeds was observed when they were grown in the presence of jatoba.