Avaliação da eficiência do uso de protetor solar agrícola em plantios de eucalipto

Abstract

The implementation of forest plantations has a high cost. A higher seedling survival rate reduces replanting costs, which are mainly caused by water stress. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of agricultural sunscreen in the survival of eucalyptus seedlings and its influence on reducing irrigation needs. To achieve this, three experiments were conducted comparing conventional treatment with the use of Surround, analyzing the plants' water demand and their development patterns over time. The results showed that Surround helped reduce irrigation needs, indicating potential water savings. However, in the early stages, seedlings in this treatment experienced greater water stress, as moisture retention delayed the perception of irrigation needs. Nevertheless, over time, the plants were able to stabilize and recover their growth pattern. In addition to the benefits for water use, reducing irrigation can lead to savings in operational costs. However, management adjustments are necessary to avoid impacts on seedling growth. Overall, agricultural sunscreen proved to be a viable alternative for optimizing irrigation in eucalyptus cultivation, balancing resource savings with plantation sustainability.