The objective of this study was to test different rescue strategies of Xylopia sericea plants from natural regeneration. Two experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design, in split-plots, with the first one consisting of four levels of shading (0 or full sun, 30, 50 and 70% of shading) and four substrates; and the second consisting of four levels of shading and three leaf reduction intensities (0, 50 and 100%). After 150 days from the rescue, the survival and increments in height and diameter were obtained. The general mean survival was 26.1% in the first experiment and 26.7% in the second one. In both experiments the plants in full sun resulted in 100% mortality, while the 70% shading showed to be more effective concerning the survival and in the growth resumption. It is recommended to use substrates whose mixture has at least 50% subsoil as one of its components. Overall, the results obtained by leaf reduction were not sufficient to justify and recommend this procedure, taking into account the increase of the process total costs.

The objective of this study was to test the effect of shading levels and leaf reduction intensities on the survival and growth of Copaifera langsdorffii Guillem. ex Benth., Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. and Hymenaea courbaril L. seedlings rescued from natural regeneration. Three experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with split-plots, in which four shading composed the plots (0 or full sun; 30; 50; and 70%) and three leaf reductions intensities composed the subplots (0; 50; and 100%). General average survival after six months from the rescue was 47.6% for C. tomentosum, 44.6% for H. courbaril and 21.4% for C. langsdorffii. Considering the height, only C. tomentosum demonstrated a significant effect of leaf reduction and shading, with total or partial maintenance of leaves (0% or 50% of leaf reduction) and the when under up to 50% shading providing a greater increment. Leaf reduction is not necessary for rescuing the seedlings from H. courbaril and C. langsdorffii, whereas the leaf reduction of 50% intensity is advised to enhance the survival of C. tomentosum species. As for shading, 50% is the most suitable level for acclimatization of H. courbaril and C. tomentosum seedlings while for C. langsdorffii the level is 70%.

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The use of direct seeding in projects for the recovery of degraded areas has stood out in some regions of the country because of its effectiveness, lower operating costs, and ease of implementation. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of direct seeding the haul in ecological restoration of a deactivated pasture dominated by Urochloa brizantha, here characterized by an invasive weed plant. The experiment consisted of eight treatments resulting from different combinations of seeds (tree and herbaceous cover crops), the use of treatments to break the dormancy of tree species seeds (with and without), and the use of different types of substrates (clay and sawdust). The tested treatments did not affect seedling emergence, survival, or initial growth. The most established species in the study area were Piptadenia gonoacantha, Mabea fistulifera, Dalbergia nigra, and Senegalia polyphylla, which could potentially compose the list of species to be used in forest restoration projects through the use of direct sowing techniques. Plant survival at the end of the evaluation period every three months until the 14 months of experiment implementation corresponded to a density equivalent to 4300 plants per hectare, this result compared to other techniques, shows muvuca as a seeding technique viable direct for the area under study. However, further studies using higher seed densities of cover species are necessary to control the invasive grass Urochloa brizantha effectively.