Transpiratory rate of eucalypt seedlings in response to water levels in the soil and to association with brachiaria

Abstract

The effects of Brachiaria brizantha Stapf on the transpiratory rate of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook and E. grandis W. Hill ex Maiden seedlings cultivated in soils with three levels of water under greenhouse conditions were evaluated. Treatments were arranged in a factorial design, with four repetitions (2x3x4): two species (E. citriodora and E. grandis), three levels of water (20%, 23% and 26%), and four populations of B. brizantha (0, 1, 2 and 3 plants per vase). Water level in the vases was maintained constant until the last experiment evaluation, at 70 days after seedlings transplant. Measurements were done with an infrared gas analyzer (IRGA). Independently of water level in the soil, Brachiaria brizantha demonstrated its competitiveness for E. citriodora and E. grandis initial growing, by transpiratory rate reduction. E. citriodora or E. grandis seedlings upper third leaves presented higher transpiratory rate than mean and lower third leaves, independently of B. brizantha population and water level in the soil.