INFLUENCE OF THE ARBOREAL STRUCTURE IN THE PRODUCTION OF PASTURE IN A SYSTEM OF DISPERSED TREES IN PASTURE, TIPITAPA, NICARAGUA

Abstract

A study of the effect of trees shade on grazing grounds
productivity in a livestock system was carried out. The study
was placed at Los Tercios, Tipitapa municipality, Managua.
Tree density, distance between trees, tree diameter, tree crown
length and plant (seedling and trees) high were evaluated in
20 m x 20 m plots. Herbaceous component (grazing) was
evaluated trough plant density, buds number and buds long
at under shadow and to full sun plots. Floristic composition
includes 20 trees species. Four trees species are useful to
fodder, others are useful to supply shade to animal component
and to fix nitrogen in soil. The most representative species
based on relative abundance are Tabebuia rosea (54%),
Pithecellobium dulce (26.4%), and Azadirachta indica (10.2%). The mean density of high forest was calculated in 71
trees ha^-1. This category have mean high and mean diameter
of 6.9 m and 18.4 cm respectably. In the case of seedling
category, the mean density is 1092 individuals ha^-1, with a
mean basal diameter of 1.0 centimeter and a mean high of
0.92 meter. Shade covering perceptual value supplied by
trees was calculated in 10.6. Statistical analyze did not show
difference (p > 0.05) between grass densities in plots under
shadows. Statistical differences (p < 0.05) were found in
grass density in plots under shadow located 10 cm of from
the center of trees and grass density in plots open to sun. The
analysis revealed statistical (p < 0.05) differences in the case
of buds number and buds longitude and correlation between
the variable tree crown area and tree abundance with the
variable number of buds and longitude of buds.

DOI: 10.5377/calera.v9i13.11