FINE ROOT PRODUCTION IN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS UNDER TWO DENSITIES OF MACAÚBA (Acrocomia aculeata) AND IN PASTURE AREA

The use of forage plants associated with tree production systems promotes a large amount of waste on the soil surface and a vigorous underground input, impacting the carbon cycle. The study was carried out at the Teaching, Research and Extension Unit of Araponga-MG, of the Federal University of Viçosa. Three areas representing three production systems were selected: single-spaced macaúba (LS; 3.5m x 7.0m), double-spaced macaúba (LD; 4.0m x 4.0m x 8.0m) and pasture area. Palmaceas are 11 years old. Root production evaluations were carried out in October 2023, using a 1570 cm³ sampler in the 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm deep layers, in row and inter-row for the macaúba system, covering the three systems. Higher root production (P<0.05) was observed in the surface layer (0-20cm) in the system with double rows (LD) compared to the single rows (SL) and pasture. The average input in this layer was 7.22 Mg/ha of roots (±1.21), contrasting with the pasture that presented 1.90 Mg/ha (±0.79). In the 20-40 cm layer, there is only a significant difference between root production in the 0.96 Mg/ha pasture, compared to the macaúba systems that had an average of 2.86 Mg/ha. The total root intake in the 0-40 cm layer was 10.08 Mg/ha and 6.47 Mg/ha for the LD and LS systems, respectively, and 2.86 Mg/ha for the pasture