FORAGE PRODUCTION UNDER TWO DENSITIES OF MACAÚBA (Acrocomia aculeata) AND UNDER FULL SUN

There is currently a growing demand in the world for forestry and livestock-based products. However, it is increasingly necessary to know the Carbon balance of production systems and, to do this, it is necessary to understand carbon inputs and GHG emissions into the atmosphere. The study was carried out at the Araponga-MG Teaching Research and Extension Unit belonging to the Federal University of Viçosa. For the present study, three areas were selected, representing three production systems: macaúba established in single spacing (LS; 3.5m x 7.0m), macaúba double spacing (LD; 4.0m x 4.0m x 8.0m), and pasture area in full sun. In production systems with macaúba, the pasture present is brachiaria grass (Urochloa decumbens) and in the open air it is fat grass (Melinis multiflora). In systems with macaúba, the palm trees are 11 years old. Five samples were collected where all the plant material was collected, in frames measuring 50 cm on each side, thrown randomly. The material was dried and weighed to determine the forage mass. The dry weight of plant material per frame was extrapolated to mass (kg) per hectare. Forage production in the different systems evaluated showed significant differences (P<0.05), with the highest phytomass production values ​​being observed in the pasture area under full sun 18.8 Mg/ha (±2.2) followed by LD area 8 Mg/ha (±0.4) and later by LS 4.8 Mg/ha (±2.3). Thus, there was a greater contribution of organic matter from forage plants under full sun compared to forage production in the macaúba understory, regardless of the tree arrangement.