Uso de matorrales como plantas nodriza en ambientes nediterráneosevaluación de una nueva técnica de repoblación forestal
- Castro Gutiérrez, Jorge 1
- Zamora, Regino 1
- Gómez, L. 1
- Gómez Reyes, José María 1
- Hódar Correa, José Antonio 1
- Baraza Ruíz, Elena 1
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1
Universidad de Granada
info
ISSN: 1575-2410
Year of publication: 2004
Issue Title: Actas de la III Reunión sobre Repoblaciones Forestales
Issue: 17
Pages: 145-150
Type: Article
More publications in: Cuadernos de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales
Abstract
Common techniques currently used for reforestation in Spain consider the pre-existing vegetation (mainly shrubs) as a source of competition for trees, and consequently it is generally eliminated before planting. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that woody plants can facilitate the establishment of understory seedlings in environments that, like the Mediterranean area, are characterized by a pronounced dry season. In this study, we experimentally analyze the usefulness of shrubs as nurse plants for reforestation considering a broad gradient of environmental conditions, such as altitude, aspect, annual rainfall, nurse plant and target species. Seedlig survival was boosted under the canopy of shrubs in relation to a traditional reforestation technique, while seedling growth was not hampered. The results show therefore that the use of shrubs as nurse plants is a viable technique for reforestation in Mediterranean environments, which in addition offers both economic and ecologic advantages.