Efeito do manejo de poda em sistema agroflorestal biodiverso no desenvolvimento de plantas de feijão de porco (Canavalia ensiformes)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement in soil quality within a biodiverse agroforestry system and its impact on plant development. To achieve this, two trials were conducted using jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) in the district of Vale dos Sonhos, Mato Grosso. The trials were located between planting rows within the system. One plot had its soil covered for four years with organic matter derived from pruning trees and shrubs. In parallel, a control trial was set up within the system on soil that did not receive any organic matter. The variables assessed included plant height, the percentage of fresh and dry phytomass, across three different planting densities. In all three densities, the environment with litter produced taller plants compared to the control environment. Regarding fresh and dry biomass, the littercovered environment yielded plants with significantly greater weight, and at the highest density, the percentage of dry matter was higher. This result suggests that in the agroforestry area, there is greater production of dry matter from jack bean plants as sowing density increases. This can be explained by factors related to planting density and competition among plants. When density is high, vegetative growth (leaves and stems) may be limited due to competition, which can reduce the water content in plants, resulting in a higher proportion of dry matter. Additionally, during this period, the region experienced the lowest rainfall levels in recent years, suggesting that plants enhanced by the addition of organic matter become more resilient to water stress. The results demonstrate that pruning management significantly influences the performance of jack bean, indicating that sustainable practices can enhance soil benefits.