Resumo

CONTRERAS, Vicente; OCHOA, Angel  e  MORENO, Enrique. Preliminary evualuation of the agronomic implications of stakes lenght end diameter in the vegetative propagation of Gliricidia sepium . Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2003, vol.21, n.2, pp.167-181. ISSN 0798-7269.

Over the basis of experiences that generated between 95% and 100% of sprouting of Gliricidia sepium, in function of stake diameters and lengths, weight and volume of G. sepium fodder (Villa del Rosario ecotype) were determined by using one year old shoots from trees grown in Tucapé, Táchira state, Venezuela, planted in 1993, at an altitude of 1135 masl. After a full pruning of the trees, the biomass was measured and the edible foliage was eliminated. Afterwards, stakes were cut at lengths of 10, 20, and 50 cm, with diameters of > 5.5 cm, 4.5 - 5.5 cm, and 2.5 - 4.5 cm, respectively. In order to assess the agro-economic impact of using different lengths and diameters of G. sepium stakes as reported in the literature, weights and volumes needed to be carried were estimated mathematically, to establish 634 stakes per km of live fence, using long stakes, and 10.000 plants per ha using either long or short stakes, according to the reports. To obtain 3.850 kg of short stakes from Villa del Rosario trees requires 8 day wages, haulage and 350 truck freight or its equivalent, a chain saw and a power saw. Long stakes with lengths of 250 cm and diameters ≥6 cm are the most efficient for establishing live fences. The best measures of short stakes near the agricultural optimum for propagation were: >1, ≥4.5 and ≥5.5 cm in diameter and 50, 20 and 10 cm in length, respectively. Using stakes with different diameters and lengths, as those reported in several sources, increase the effort of propagating G. sepium 3.5 - 17.2 times more than required to sow agronomical efficient stakes.

Palavras-chave : Gliricidia sepium; mouse killer; propagation; stakes; length; diameter.