Spondias mombin and Theobroma grandiflorum in agroforestry system: productivity implications

Abstract In agroforestry systems, little is known about the influence of the dominant species on that located in the lower layer of the canopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate if S. mombin plants, when in consortium with T. grandiflorum, caused some type of depression in the performance of T. grandiflorum and also to identify the most favorable S. mombin clones for this interaction. The experiment started on February 2005. During 11 years, four levels of influence of S. mombin on T. grandiflorum caused by the proximity between species were evaluated. As response variables, the vegetative development of S. mombin and T. grandiflorum was measured; the production of eight vintages T. grandiflorum trees was computed, and the mortality rate of plants was recorded. The results showed that the competition exerted by S. mombin moderately affected the initial development of plants, as well as the production of fruits in the last harvests, and the survival rate. The most favorable S. mombin clones to be used in agroforestry systems with T. grandiflorum trees were identified. According to results presented here, it was possible to conclude that S. mombin can be indicated as a species to compose AFS with T. grandiflorum.