L’ajout de diversité végétale est présenté comme un moyen d’améliorer la durabilité des agrosystèmes. Cependant, il y a encore des manques importants de connaissances sur l’effet de la diversité végétale sur les processus à la base de l’élaboration des rendements. Les systèmes agroforestiers tropicaux couvrent une large gamme de diversité végétale ; ce sont donc de bons modèles pour étudier la relation entre diversité et productivité. Les systèmes agroforestiers de la région de Talamanca au Costa Rica sont particulièrement intéressants car au sein de communautés végétales complexes, ils comprennent des bananiers et des cacaoyers qui sont des cultures de rente importantes et dont la production peut facilement être quantifiée et analysée. Une autre spécificité de ces systèmes est qu’ils présentent des organisations spatiales particulièrement diverses. Analyser comment la diversité des plantes et son organisation influe sur les performances de ces systèmes est particulièrement complexe et nécessite le développement de nouvelles approches. Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient d’étudier : i) quels facteurs affectent la relation entre diversité végétale et productivité ? ii) Comment la diversité végétale influence la productivité globale des systèmes agroforestiers ? et iii) Comment la structure spatiales des communautés de plantes cultivées influence leurs rendements ?Tout d’abord, une méta-analyse a été menée afin d’étudier la relation entre diversité végétale et production dans une très large gamme de systèmes naturels et cultivés. Cette analyse a notamment traité du rôle de la latitude, du climat et de la structure de la canopée sur cette relation. Elle a montré que le gain lié à la diversité végétal tend à diminuer avec la magnitude de cette diversité. Nos résultats montrent également que la réponse de la productivité à la richesse spécifique en plantes dépend énormément du type de communauté considéré, notamment si la communauté comprend des arbres.Ensuite, un réseau de 180 placettes situées dans 20 parcelles d’agriculteurs a été étudié dans la région de Talamanca. Pendant un an, la production de chaque plante a été évaluée. Cette production a ensuite été convertie en revenus en accord avec les prix du marché local. Alors qu’un effet positif de la diversité végétale cultivée a été observé sur le revenu globale (de chaque placette), cet effet était très contrasté si on le considérait séparément pour les différents groupes fonctionnels. Cet effet était positif pour les plantes des groupes appartenant aux strates hautes et négatif pour les plantes des groupes appartenant aux strates basses. Ces résultats suggèrent que la complémentarité entre plantes était plus forte pour les plantes des strates hautes et qu’inversement la compétition était plus forte dans les strates plus basses.La seconde phase de l’analyse des données de ce réseau de parcelles a visé à étudier l’effet du voisinage de chaque bananier ou cacaoyer sur leur production. Une approche d’analyse individu-centrée a été développée afin de déterminer si le nombre de voisins d’un groupe donné dans un rayon donné était un bon prédicteur de la croissance ou du rendement de chaque bananier ou cacaoyer. Les résultats montrent que la distance à laquelle la production d’un bananier ou d’un cacaoyer est affectée par ses voisins dépend de la taille de ces. De manière surprenante, les grands arbres ont eu un effet plus faible que les arbres plus petits. Cela suggère que des densités modérées de grands arbres pourraient être compatibles avec une production de bananiers et de cacaoyer avec un haut niveau de rendement. Ces résultats ont été discutés en termes de complémentarité et compétition pour la lumière. Des pistes d’organisation sont proposées et discutées au regard de la maximisation des rendements des cultures de rente et des autres cultures mais aussi dans la provision de services écosystémiques au sens large. / Adding plant diversity is increasingly presented as a mean to improve the sustainability of agrosystems. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on how plant functional diversity alters processes that support production. Because they cover a broad range of plant diversity, agroforestry systems in the tropics are a good case study to better understand the diversity-production relation. Agroforestry systems in the Talamanca region in Costa Rica are particularly interesting because among the cultivated plants they encompass, banana and cacao are two cash crops of major importance and for which production can easily be quantified and analyzed. Another specificity of these systems is that their vertical and horizontal organization is particularly diverse. Understanding how plant diversity and its organization alter the performances of these complex systems is particularly challenging and requires developing new approaches. The objectives of this thesis were to address the following questions: i) Which factors affect the relationship between plant diversity and productivity? ii) How plant diversity influences the global productivity of agroforestry systems? and iii) How the spatial structure of the plant community affects yields?First, a meta-analysis was carried out to address the diversity-production issue among a very broad range of systems world-wide. This analysis focused on how latitude, climate, and canopy structure modify the effect of plant richness on productivity of agricultural and natural ecosystems. It showed that the gain per unit of diversity added decreased as plant richness increased. Our findings also showed that the response of productivity to plant richness largely depends on the type of plants in the community, especially if the community includes trees.Then, we extensively studied the diversity and the productivity of 180 plots located within 20 fields in the Talamanca region. A global evaluation of the productivity of these systems was possible with the estimation of the production of each plant during 1 year. This production was converted into income according to local market prices. While we observed a global positive effect of plant diversity on global income, this effect was contrasted according to the functional group considered (banana, cacao, other fruits, timber, firewood. When considering the functional group separately, there was a positive effect of plant diversity for higher strata groups and a negative effect for lower strata groups. This suggested that complementarity between plants was stronger than competition for those plants occupying the higher strata of the canopy but that competition was stronger than complementarity for plants occupying the lower strata of the canopy.The second part of the analysis of the Talamanca fields dataset focused on the effect of neighbouring plants on the production of banana and cacao plants. An individual-based analysis was developed to determine whether the number of neighbouring plants of a given functional groups explained the potential yield of each banana or cacao plant. We found that the distance at which other plants alters the yield of banana or cacao plants was greater for larger functional groups (fruit or wood trees) than for smaller ones (cacao trees or banana plants). Interestingly, higher strata trees had a smaller effect than lower strata trees, suggesting that moderate densities of tall trees could be compatible with high banana and cacao production. These findings were discussed in terms of complementary and competition with respect to the availability of light at higher and lower strata of the canopy. On an applied perspective, our results suggest that productivity could be maximized by a reasonably number of plant species, and then we proposed new direction to organize fields in order to maximize the production of cash crops while providing supplementary income for farmers and ecosystem services.

A relação da palmeira-juçara com os atores sociais no Litoral Norte do Rio Grande do Sul é representada pelo conflito socioambiental entre o extrativismo ilegal e o uso sustentável da espécie. A palmeira-juçara na história da Mata Atlântica possui relevada importância ecológica, cultural e socioeconômica. Apesar das ações de corte e furto do palmito realizada por infratores ambientais ainda ser recorrente, muitos agricultores familiares manejam a palmeira-juçara em quintais agroflorestais, cultivos consorciados, áreas de ocorrência natural aliando a produção agroflorestal agroecológica e a conservação da espécie nos agroecossistemas da região. O trabalho de pesquisa teve como objetivo central compreender a dinâmica das práticas sociotécnicas dos atores sociais e a produção de novidades associadas ao manejo sustentável da palmeira-juçara. Os objetivos específicos da pesquisa consistiram em identificar os atores sociais, descrever as práticas sociotécnicas, caracterizar as novidades e a rede de novidades interligadas. O referencial teórico-metodológico mobilizado no trabalho consistiu na interface dos elementos teóricos da Perspectiva Orientada ao Ator, Perspectiva Multinível (transições sociotécnicas) e da produção de novidades. A construção da pesquisa se deu a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa de estudo de caso onde foram utilizados elementos metodológicos da pesquisa etnográfica como a observação participante, entrevistas semiestruturadas e diálogos informais com atores sociais nas comunidades rurais de Aguapés, Vale do Maquiné, Morro Azul, Arroio do Padre e Chapada do Morro Bicudo no Litoral Norte do Rio Grande do Sul. Como resultados da análise do estudo empírico nas comunidades rurais se identificou a emergência de novidades (técnico-produtivas, organizacionais e de acesso a mercados sociais) que por sua vez, geraram novidades interligadas estabelecidas a partir das práticas sociotécnicas associadas a palmeira-juçara pelos atores sociais. / The relation between the juçara palm and the social actors on the North Coast of Rio Grande do Sul is represented by the socio-environmental conflict between illegal extractivism and the sustainable use of the species. The juçara palm in the history of the Atlantic Forest has important ecological, cultural and socioeconomic importance. In spite of the fact that the palmito cutting and theft actions carried out by environmental violators are still recurrent, many family farmers manage juçara palm in agroforestry yards, intercropping, natural occurrence areas combining agro-ecological agroforestry production and species conservation in agroecosystems in the region. The main objective of the research work was to understand the dynamics of sociotechnical practices of social actors and the production of novelties associated with the sustainable management of the palm tree. The specific objectives of the research were to identify the social actors, to describe the socio-technical practices, to characterize the novelties and the network of interlinked novelties. The theoretical-methodological framework mobilized in the work consisted of the interface of the theoretical elements of the Actor-Oriented Perspective, Multilevel Perspective (sociotechnical transitions) and the production of novelties. The construction of the research was based on a qualitative approach of case study where methodological elements of the ethnographic research were used as participant observation, semi-structured interviews and informal dialogues with social actors in the rural communities of Aguapés, Vale do Maquiné, Morro Azul, Arroio do Padre and Chapada do Morro Bicudo in the North Coast of Rio Grande do Sul. As a result of the analysis of the empirical study in rural communities, the emergence of innovations (technical-productive, organizational and access to social markets) was identified, which in turn generated interconnected novelties established from the sociotechnical practices associated with the juçara palm by the social actors.

A legislação atual exige adequações no sistema de produção da canade- açúcar, proibindo gradativamente a queima como método de despalha antes do corte, com o que a colheita deve ser com corte manual ou mecanizado. 37% das terras da região de Piracicaba apresentam declividade acima de 12%, o que dificulta a mecanização da colheita. Os sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) apresentam potencial para manter a atividade agrícola na região de Piracicaba, dando maior sustentabilidade ao setor sucroalcooleiro. Através de visitas às unidades fornecedoras da região de Piracicaba, foram realizadas entrevistas com fornecedores de cana-de-açúcar, 25 em total, 7 em Rio das Pedras, 10 em Charqueada, 6 em Iracemápolis e 2 em Ipeúna, que trabalham em área própria e têm a atividade canavieira como principal, cadastrados na Associação de Fornecedores de Cana de Piracicaba (AFOCAPI), nos meses de abril e maio de 2002. Os questionários foram elaborados em base naqueles de Caron (1986) e Darolt (2000), considerando indicadores relacionados com a adoção de Sistemas Agroflorestais. Verifica-se o desconhecimento sobre SAFs. Entretanto, quando alertados das vantagens desses sistemas, os fornecedores se interessam pelas possibilidades de aproveitar melhor as áreas declivosas com SAFs. Também, não demonstra resistência natural à mudança tecnológica. Os entraves para a adoção, não são intrínsecos aos fornecedores, mas são principalmente devido às características da própria tecnologia como a adaptabilidade da tecnologia às condições locais, a segurança do mercado para os produtos e a falta de um programa oficial de assistência técnica. Os fornecedores podem investir, desde que a alternativa tecnológica seja rentável. Porém, tem uma aversão ao risco financeiro para investimentos a longo prazo. Dessa forma, o principal impedimento para a adoção de SAFs é a ausência de comprovação concreta das vantagens agronômicas e econômicas desses sistemas. / Present legislation in Brazil, by gradually preventing the sugarcane burnt, provoke adjustments on the production system, mainly by changing the harvest process from that done by labor to mechanized cutting and collection of the stalks. In the region of Piracicaba 37% of the land has an slope of 12% or above, what makes mechanization very difficult. Agroforestry systems (AFSs) have the potential to preserve the agriculture activity in the region of Piracicaba, improving the sustainability of sugarcane production chain. Sugarcane small growers, who cultivate their own land, and have the sugarcane as their main crop and were associated to the regional growers association (AFOCAPI) were visited and interviewed , 25 in total, being 7 in Rio das Pedras., 10 in Charqueada, 6 in Iracemápolis and 2 in Ipeúna sub-regions. A questionnaire, considering indicators related to the adoption of SAFs. It was observed a nonacquaintance about AFSs. However, when warned about the advantages of these systems, growers are interested about the possibilities of better utilize the undulating and steep areas with AFSs. Besides, they do not demonstrate natural opposition to technological changes. Restraint for adoption are not intrinsic to growers but mainly due to the characteristics of the technology itself, as the adaptability of technology to local conditions, the market safety for their products, and the inexistence of a official program of technical assistance. Growers may invest, since the alternative technology is profitable. Nevertheless, the have aversion to financial risk for long term investments. Thus, the major restraint for adoption of AFSs is the inexistence of concrete confirmation of the agronomical and economical advantages of these production systems.

Este estudo avaliou a evolução dos atributos físico-hídricos do solo sob diferentes sistemas de manejo (orgânico, agroflorestal e convencional), caracterizou o funcionamento físico-hídrico e avaliou o modelo Hydrus 1D em três coberturas vegetais distintas (agricultura orgânica, sistema agroflorestal - SAF e capoeira) em áreas de agricultura familiar no município de Apiaí - SP. A avaliação da evolução ao longo do tempo dos atributos físico-hídricos do solo foi realizada através do monitoramento da densidade do solo, porosidade calculada, porosidade por análise de imagens, condutividade hidráulica e do conteúdo de matéria orgânica para cada propriedade com diferentes sistemas de manejo. A caracterização do funcionamento físico-hídrico dos solos, e a obtenção dos dados de entrada para o modelo Hydrus 1D foram realizadas por meio da coleta de amostras para análises químicas, granulométricas, densidade de partículas, densidade do solo, curva de retenção, condutividade hidráulica saturada e análise de imagens. O monitoramento da umidade do solo \"in situ\" foi obtido por sensores instalados nos principais horizontes das trincheiras e associados aos dados de precipitação coletados em estação meteorológica automática instalada na área. Os resultados da evolução ao longo do tempo dos três sistemas de manejo mostraram altos valores de matéria orgânica, principalmente na profundidade de 0,0 - 0,2 m, porém não demonstraram tendência de acúmulo. Altos valores de matéria orgânica proporcionam ao solo baixa densidade e altos valores de porosidade, resultando em maior condutividade de água no solo. Todos os sistemas apresentaram atributos físicos e hídricos com boas condições para o cultivo, não sendo o solo um impedimento para a manutenção destes sistemas nesta região; além disso, o uso de sistemas de manejo agroecológicos é uma alternativa interessante para a região como forma de prática agrícola conservacionista. Em relação à caracterização físico-hídrica, os três solos sob diferentes coberturas vegetais, apresentaram, principalmente nos horizontes superficiais, altos valores de matéria orgânica e porosidade, porosidade esta representada por poros complexos grandes, que são responsáveis pela alta condutividade hidráulica e são determinantes na presença de duas regiões com propriedades hidráulicas contrastantes que confere o comportamento bimodal das curvas de retenção. Na modelagem dos dados e suas comparações, o modelo Hydrus não foi eficiente para a predição dos valores de umidade nos solos estudados, pois, no geral, apresentou valores simulados de umidade mais baixos para todos os horizontes das trincheiras nas três áreas quando comparados com os dados observados. Entretanto, apresentou bons resultados na predição dos volumes de runoff, que neste trabalho não foram medidos, mas observados no campo. Estes resultados confirmam a necessidade de mais estudos com relação à predição de movimentos da água em condições heterogêneas de culturas, visto que os dados de entrada com relação à vegetação são de difícil escolha, principalmente no SAF por apresentar alta diversidade de espécies. / This study evaluated the evolution of hydro-physical attributes of the soil under different management systems (Organic, Conventional and Agroforestry), characterized the hydro-physical functioning and assessed the Hydrus 1D model in three different cover crops (Organic agriculture, Agroforestry Systems and \"Capoeira\") in family agriculture areas , municipality of Apiaí - SP. The evaluation of the evolution over time of the hydro-physical attributes of the soil was performed by monitoring the soil bulk density, calculated porosity, porosity by image analysis, hydraulic conductivity and organic matter content for each family agriculture property with different management systems. The characterization of the hydro-physical functioning of the soil, as well as the attainment of the input data for the Hydrus 1D model, were done by collecting samples for chemical analysis, particle size distribution, particle density, bulk density, soil water retention curve, hydraulic saturated conductivity and image analysis. The monitoring of soil moisture \"in situ\" was obtained by sensors installed in the main horizons of the pits and associated with rainfall data collected from an automatic weather station installed in the area. The results of the evolution over time of the three management systems showed high levels of organic matter, especially in depth from 0.0 to 0.2 m, but showed no tendency to accumulate. These high values of organic matter provide a low soil bulk density and high porosity, resulting in a increased water conductivity of the soil. Each system had hydro-physical attributes with good conditions for cultivation and the soil was not an impediment to the maintenance of these systems in this region, moreover, the use of agroecological management systems is an interesting alternative for the region as a form of conservationist agricultural practices. Regarding the hydro-physical characterization, the three soils under different crop cover, presented, mainly in the surface horizons, high values of organic matter and porosity, being this porosity represented by large complex pores, that are responsible for the high hydraulic conductivity and are crucial in the presence of two regions with contrasting hydraulic properties conferring bimodal behavior of the soil water retention curve. In the comparisons of the modeling data, the Hydrus model was not effective for predicting the moisture values in the studied soils. This data presented simulated moisture values lower for all horizons of the pits in the three areas, when compared with the observed data. However, good results were obtained in predicting runoff volumes, which were not measured in this work, but observed in the field. These results confirm the need for further studies with respect to the prediction of water movements under conditions of heterogenous cultures, since the input data with respect to vegetation, are difficult to chose, especially in AFS, due to its high diversity of species.

Os solos de terra firme da Amazônia são representados em sua maioria por Latossolos e Argissolos de alta acidez e baixa fertilidade, além de serem facilmente alterados fisicamente com a substituição da floresta primária por cultivos intensivos. O uso de estratégias biológicas, entre as quais se destacam as associaçãos micorrízicas arbusculares, no aperfeiçoamento de sistemas de manejo que racionalizem o uso dos recursos naturais da região, é fundamental para o desenvolvimento econômico contínuo, socialmente justo e ambientalmente sustentável. Para tanto, é necessário melhor entendimento de aspectos ecológicos da comunidade de fungos MA, com o fim de manejá-los. Dentro desse contexto, o objetivo dessa tese foi avaliar a simbiose micorrízica e as comunidades de fungos MA associados à pupunha (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) e ao cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum Willd ex Spring Schum), quando cultivados em sistema agroflorestal (SAF) e em monocultivo, além de estimar a diversidade de comunidades de fungos MA associados às raízes de pupunha através de sequenciamento de mini biblieotecas de amplicons de região do gene ribossomal 18S. Foram realizadas coletas de solo e raízes em duas estações, seca e chuvosa. A colonização micorrízica arbuscular no cupuaçu e na pupunha foi alterada pelo sistema de manejo adotado, sendo observadas maiores taxas de colonização no sistema de monocultivo. A dinâmica sazonal da colonização micorrízica arbuscular foi diferente em cupuaçu e pupunha. A densidade total dos esporos de fungos MA sob o cupuaçu não foi alterada pelo manejo ou pela estação. O tipo de efeito do sistema de manejo na densidade total de esporos de fungos MA sob a pupunha foi diferente nas duas estações. O número de populações de fungos MA encontrados nos agrossistemas de cupuaçu e pupunha foi elevado, com grande número de espécies de freqüência considerada rara. As espécies A. mellea, A. aff. mellea e G. macrocarpum foram as mais freqüentes no cupuaçu e na pupunha em todos os sistemas de manejo. O manejo adotado alterou a composição das comunidades de fungos MA associados à pupunha, não sendo esse efeito muito claro no cupuaçu. O cupuaçu e a pupunha apresentaram comunidades de fungos MA com alta diversidade de espécies de fungos MA, independente do sistema de cultivo. O sequenciamento de mini bibliotecca de amplicons de região do gene rDNA 18S se mostrou viável na avaliação da diversidade de fungos MA, revelando alta diversidade genética desses fungos associados às raízes de pupunha. / The upland soils from the Central Amazon region are characterized by natural low fertility and easy physical degradation due to their conversion from forest to intensive crop systems. The use of biological strategies, including the arbuscular mycorrhizal association, to improve the management of agricultural systems adapted to this environment, may be essential for the sustainable development of the Amazon region. Therefore, it is necessary to learn about ecological aspects concerning arbuscular mycorrizal fungi communities. Thus, the objective of this thesis was to evaluate the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi communities associated with peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) and cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum Willd ex Spring Schum) in agroforestry systems and monoculture. Also, we aimed to estimate the diversity of the AM fungi communities in peachpalm roots by sequencing of 18S rDNA amplicons to build mini library. The soil and root samples were collected in the field, in dry and rainy season. Mycorrhizal root colonization of cupuaçu and peach palm was affected by the management systems, with higher colonization rates observed in the monoculture systems. The seasonal dynamic of root colonization was different in cupuaçu and peach palm. The total spore density of MA fungi under cupuaçu was not affected by management systems or season. The management system effect on the total spore density of MA fungi under peach palm was different in the dry and rainy season. A high total number of MA fungi species was found in peachpalm and cupuaçu agrosystems, with mostly rare species. The species A. mellea, A. aff. mellea and G. macrocarpum were most common in both management systems and plant species. The AM fungi community composition associated with peachpalm was strongly affected by management systems, which did not show up clearly in cupuaçu. Cupuaçu and peach palm presented a high diversity in AM fungi communities, independent of the management systems. The sequencing of 18S rDNA amplicons mini library to estimate the diversity of the AM fungi community in peach palm roots confirmed that there is a very great diversity inside the roots, as also found in the rhizosphere.

Alleycropping is an agroforestry technology of planting crops between rows of trees, preferable legumes to promote an interaction among them with positive benefits in terms of improving soil fertility and hence good crop yields. The technology has been tested with a variety of trees/shrubs species in association with crops (alleycropping) or with grasses (alleygrazing), sometimes with encouraging results and sometimes not, in a wide range of environmental conditions around the world. Research in alleycropping started in late 1970s and sinc~ then many publications have been released. However, little or nothing has been reported about this technology using black wattle and the fever tree, two nitrogen-fixing trees common in South Africa and reported as fast-growing species which produce a considerable amount of biomass within a short period of time. Due to that fact, a two-year trial was established in 2003 at the Ukulinga research farm, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa to evaluate the potential of the two tree species under alleycropping with maize and cowpeas as joint intercrops, under alleycropping with pumpkin, and under alleygrazing with Eragrostis curvula and with Panicum maximum. The trial assessed the crop yields and the biomass production from all the components, and their fodder digestibility using Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) determinations. Additionally the changes in tree grovlth vaa."'i.ables (difu~eter, total height, total \lollhl1e and biomass) were mortitored to produce regression equations to predict those variables, one from another, using regression analysis. The diameter was taken at ground level (dgl) and at the height of 1.3 m, normally called diameter at breast height (dbh). The results showed that tree growth and biomass production were better in black wattle alleycropping than in association with the fever tree. The average dgl of black wattle after 12 months was 48mm and the average dbh was 36mlll. Over the same period the total tree height was about 406cm. A tree pruning was done to one-year old black wattle in the whole trial and the prunings produced about 5.6t/ha of fresh foliage biomass in the association with maize and cowpea and 4.5t/ha in the association with pumpkin. In alleygrazing the growth variables were similar to those obtained in alleycropping but the biomass production was considerably different. The prunings produced about 7.66t/ha of fresh foliage biomass. The dry matter biomass from the prunings was 1.96t/ha, 1.58t/ha and 2.68t/ha in the association with maize and cowpeas, pumpkin and E. curvula respectively. The dry matter was obtained from 4days- oven-dried samples and it was 35% of the fresh foliage biomass and 60% of the fresh woody biomass. The fever tree did not grow significantly during the study period and due to that fact, the species was discarded from the study. Similarly, because after several endeavours using different seed lots, P. maximum had germinated very unevenly, and this grass was excluded from the experimentation. Values ofNDF and ADF less than 35% are considered good, between 35% and 60% fair and poor if greater than 50%. Using is classification the NDF and ADF values from this study were good in pumpkin (30.5% and 29.9%) and cowpeas (36.5% and 46.9%) biomass, fair in E. curvula (41.9% and 39.9%) and maize stover (53.6% and 42.1%) and poor in black wattle (76.58% and 68.1%) foliage. If black wattle is to be used as fodder, it must be mixed with highly digestible fodder like P. maximum, Digitaria sp., and other legume plants, to increase animal intake and to avoid any risk of it becoming an animal hazard due to tannin effects. The regression equations produced linear relationships between dgl and age, and biomass and dbh. The other interactions were not linear. The best equations were obtained in the interaction between dgl and age (dgl= 4.8*Age -7.03; R2 =0.86; SE= 6.6), dgl and height (h= -0.03dg12 + 10.5dgl - 21.25; R2= 0.96, SE= 42.9, h= height), biomass and dbh (lny = 2.409*lndbh; R2=0.99, SE=O.O, Y= tree foliage biomass). During the study, monkeys, cattle, birds and bushbucks posed a threat to the success of the study due to damage they caused to the crops. It was possible to keep the damage below the critical levels, although at high cost. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

O manejo de sistemas agroflorestais requer uma nova forma de produção. Neste contexto, as dificuldades inerentes ao seu manejo fazem com que ocorra um processo de aprendizagem diferenciado. Nesta perspectiva, a pesquisa buscou responder ao seguinte problema: Por que agricultores introduzem sistemas agroflorestais e como desenvolvem conhecimento para o seu manejo? Para responder a este problema, foram selecionados dois grupos de citricultores ecológicos no Vale do Caí (RS), que manejam sistemas agroflorestais, em um processo que iniciou antes da formulação de políticas públicas específicas e de estudos conhecidos para o tema. A pesquisa está inserida no campo da Agroecologia e embasada em referenciais teóricos que abordam a construção do conhecimento, o processo de inovação e a produção de novidades, utilizando elementos oferecidos pela Perspectiva Orientada ao Ator, agregando elementos da Teoria do Ator-Rede e da Perspectiva Multinivel. Os resultados indicam que na rede da citricultura ecológica fluem relações afetivas de amizade e parentesco, valores culturais, padrões de comportamento, informações, artefatos, técnicas e práticas. E a combinação de todos estes elementos constrói conhecimento. É um processo de construção conjunta, onde aquele que constrói também está sendo construído. Deste modo, não há como transpor conhecimentos sem adaptações. Foram identificados os motivos que definiram a tomada de decisão a cerca do manejo dos diferentes tipos sistemas agroflorestais, bem como as dificuldades e benefícios considerados, além de mais de trinta diferentes técnicas empregadas pelos citricultores. Durante este processo, emergiram novidades tecnológicas que incluem várias combinações de espécies, de densidades e a experimentação de diferentes técnicas de manejo, incluindo o desenvolvimento de adaptações em equipamentos. A produção ecológica de citros em sistemas agroflorestais no Vale do Caí (RS) pode ser considerada um nicho tecnológico, que juntamente com outros, passou recentemente a ser reconhecido pelo regime sociotecnico predominante. Este processo de transformação da novidade em inovação é definido pela existência de diversas organizações formais de pesquisa que o estão estudando, desenvolvendo experimentos (participativos ou não) e formalizando-os através dos mecanismos de tradução adotados em diferentes arenas, assim como na formulação de diferentes leis e normas que os regulam, conformando-os de acordo com os padrões e procedimentos aceitos no regime. Este processo ainda está em sua fase inicial, portanto, apresentando avanços e recuos, instabilidades e conflitos, que representam uma oportunidade importante para estudar o processo de construção de conhecimento e de aprendizagem associados a esta etapa. / The agroforestry management requires new production way. In this context, the inherent difficulties in agroforestry systems management are occurring into a different learning process. The research seeks to answer the following question: Why farmers introduce agroforestry systems and how they do the management? To answer this problem, we selected two groups of organic citrus farmers in the Vale do Caí (RS), who manage agroforestry systems, a process that began prior to the formulation of public policies and studies known to the subject. The research is embedded in Agroecology studies and based on theoretical frameworks that address the knowledge construction, the innovation process and novelty production, using elements provided by the Actor-Oriented Perspective, Actor- Network Theory and Multilevel Perspective. The results indicates that in the organic farmers network flows relations of friendship and kinship, cultural values, behavior patterns, information, artifacts, techniques and practices. And the combination of all these elements builds knowledge. It is a process of joint construction, where who is building is also being built. Thus, there is no way to transpose knowledge without adaptations. We identified the reasons upon which the decision-making about the different types of agroforestry systems management, as well as the difficulties and benefits considered, along with over thirty different techniques used by organic citrus farmers. During this process, new technologies have emerged which include various combinations of species, densities and testing of diverse management techniques, including making changes in equipments. The ecological production in citrus agroforestry systems in Vale do Caí (RS) may be considered as a technological niche, which along with others, has recently come to be recognized by the prevailing sociotechnical regime. This process of transforming novelty into innovation is defined by the existence of many formal research organizations that are studying, developing experiments (participatory or not) and formalize them through the mechanisms of translation adopted in different arenas, as well as in the formulation of different laws and rules that regulate them, shaping them in accordance with accepted standards and procedures in the scheme. This process is still in its initial phase, therefore, has forward and back, instability and conflict, which represent an important opportunity to study the process of the knowledge building and learning associated with this step.

A relação da palmeira-juçara com os atores sociais no Litoral Norte do Rio Grande do Sul é representada pelo conflito socioambiental entre o extrativismo ilegal e o uso sustentável da espécie. A palmeira-juçara na história da Mata Atlântica possui relevada importância ecológica, cultural e socioeconômica. Apesar das ações de corte e furto do palmito realizada por infratores ambientais ainda ser recorrente, muitos agricultores familiares manejam a palmeira-juçara em quintais agroflorestais, cultivos consorciados, áreas de ocorrência natural aliando a produção agroflorestal agroecológica e a conservação da espécie nos agroecossistemas da região. O trabalho de pesquisa teve como objetivo central compreender a dinâmica das práticas sociotécnicas dos atores sociais e a produção de novidades associadas ao manejo sustentável da palmeira-juçara. Os objetivos específicos da pesquisa consistiram em identificar os atores sociais, descrever as práticas sociotécnicas, caracterizar as novidades e a rede de novidades interligadas. O referencial teórico-metodológico mobilizado no trabalho consistiu na interface dos elementos teóricos da Perspectiva Orientada ao Ator, Perspectiva Multinível (transições sociotécnicas) e da produção de novidades. A construção da pesquisa se deu a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa de estudo de caso onde foram utilizados elementos metodológicos da pesquisa etnográfica como a observação participante, entrevistas semiestruturadas e diálogos informais com atores sociais nas comunidades rurais de Aguapés, Vale do Maquiné, Morro Azul, Arroio do Padre e Chapada do Morro Bicudo no Litoral Norte do Rio Grande do Sul. Como resultados da análise do estudo empírico nas comunidades rurais se identificou a emergência de novidades (técnico-produtivas, organizacionais e de acesso a mercados sociais) que por sua vez, geraram novidades interligadas estabelecidas a partir das práticas sociotécnicas associadas a palmeira-juçara pelos atores sociais. / The relation between the juçara palm and the social actors on the North Coast of Rio Grande do Sul is represented by the socio-environmental conflict between illegal extractivism and the sustainable use of the species. The juçara palm in the history of the Atlantic Forest has important ecological, cultural and socioeconomic importance. In spite of the fact that the palmito cutting and theft actions carried out by environmental violators are still recurrent, many family farmers manage juçara palm in agroforestry yards, intercropping, natural occurrence areas combining agro-ecological agroforestry production and species conservation in agroecosystems in the region. The main objective of the research work was to understand the dynamics of sociotechnical practices of social actors and the production of novelties associated with the sustainable management of the palm tree. The specific objectives of the research were to identify the social actors, to describe the socio-technical practices, to characterize the novelties and the network of interlinked novelties. The theoretical-methodological framework mobilized in the work consisted of the interface of the theoretical elements of the Actor-Oriented Perspective, Multilevel Perspective (sociotechnical transitions) and the production of novelties. The construction of the research was based on a qualitative approach of case study where methodological elements of the ethnographic research were used as participant observation, semi-structured interviews and informal dialogues with social actors in the rural communities of Aguapés, Vale do Maquiné, Morro Azul, Arroio do Padre and Chapada do Morro Bicudo in the North Coast of Rio Grande do Sul. As a result of the analysis of the empirical study in rural communities, the emergence of innovations (technical-productive, organizational and access to social markets) was identified, which in turn generated interconnected novelties established from the sociotechnical practices associated with the juçara palm by the social actors.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:53:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 500778 bytes, checksum: 54d74c38abecd0c8fd7cac86d969d9ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The soil quality refers to its functionality within the ecosystems natural or managed. The main functions of the soil are related to the ability to sustain this into biological activity, to promote growth and health of plants and animals and maintaining environmental quality. The intensive use of the soil leads to loss of quality of it this way, there is a need in the adoption of management systems conservationist, trying to preserve soil quality. In this sense, the agroforestry systems (SAFs) represent an alternative, to seek greater balance of agroecosytems, where the intercropping of traditional crops with the tree component encourages the diversification of the root system, which provides continuous input of organic matter and positively conditions the environment. Based on the hypothesis that the management agroforest improves physical quality of the soil, this study aimed to assess the quality of soil physics in areas under agroforestry systems, comparing them with cultures at full sun. Soil samples were collected in layers of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm deep, in two farms of family agriculture, located in the Zona da Mata mining and Semi-arid Ceará, Brazil. In both farms, soil samples were collected under agroforestry systems (SAF), cultures at full sun (CPS) and secondary forest (MS). Forest area was used as a reference. With these samples are evaluated in the laboratory: total organic carbon, water dispersed clay, flocculation index, particles density, bulk density, porosity, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention curve, least limiting water range and stability of aggregates. Additionally, evaluate the resistance of penetration of the soil and the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity directly in the field. The SAFs promoted improvement in the physical quality of the soil, reflected by the reduction in the values of water dispersed clay, bulk density and resistance of penetration, as well as increasing the retention of water within the range available to the plants and least limiting water range. The systems evaluated in the Zona da Mata showed most significant answers to management adopted because your texture with more clay content and greater time of system adoption, compared with observed in the semi-arid area. / A qualidade do solo refere-se a sua funcionalidade dentro dos ecossistemas naturais ou manejados. As principais funções do solo estão relacionadas com a capacidade deste em sustentar a atividade biológica, promover o crescimento e saúde das plantas e animais e manter a qualidade ambiental. O uso intensivo do solo leva a perda da qualidade do mesmo, desta forma, há necessidade na adoção de sistemas de manejo conservacionistas, procurando a preservação da qualidade do solo. Neste sentido, os sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) representam uma alternativa, por buscar maior equilíbrio do agroecossitema, onde a consorciação de culturas tradicionais com o componente arbóreo favorece a diversificação do sistema radicular, que fornece contínuo aporte de matéria orgânica e condiciona favoravelmente o meio físico. Partindo- se da hipótese de que o manejo agroflorestal melhora a qualidade física do solo, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade física do solo em áreas sob sistemas agroflorestais, comparando-os com cultivos a pleno sol. Para tal foram coletadas amostras de solo, nas camadas de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-40 cm de profundidade, em duas propriedades de agricultura familiar, localizadas na Zona da Mata mineira e no Semi-árido cearense. Em ambas as propriedades foram coletados solos sob sistemas agroflorestais (SAF), cultivos a pleno sol (CPS) e mata secundária (MS), sendo esta última utilizada como referência. Com estas amostras avaliou-se em laboratório: carbono orgânico total, argila dispersa em água, índice de floculação, densidade de partículas, densidade do solo, porosidade, condutividade hidráulica do solo saturado, curva de retenção da água no solo, intervalo hídrico ótimo e estabilidade de agregados. Adicionalmente, avaliou-se a resistência do solo á penetração e condutividade hidráulica do solo saturado diretamente no campo. Os SAFs promoveram melhoria na qualidade física do solo, refletida pela redução nos valores de argila dispersa em água, de densidade do solo e resistência à penetração, assim como no aumento da retenção de água dentro da faixa disponível às plantas e no intervalo hídrico ótimo. Os sistemas avaliados na Zona da Mata apresentaram respostas mais significativas ao manejo adotado, devido a textura mais argilosa, assim como o maior tempo de adoção dos sistemas, comparativamente ao observado para a área do Semi-árido.

A relação da palmeira-juçara com os atores sociais no Litoral Norte do Rio Grande do Sul é representada pelo conflito socioambiental entre o extrativismo ilegal e o uso sustentável da espécie. A palmeira-juçara na história da Mata Atlântica possui relevada importância ecológica, cultural e socioeconômica. Apesar das ações de corte e furto do palmito realizada por infratores ambientais ainda ser recorrente, muitos agricultores familiares manejam a palmeira-juçara em quintais agroflorestais, cultivos consorciados, áreas de ocorrência natural aliando a produção agroflorestal agroecológica e a conservação da espécie nos agroecossistemas da região. O trabalho de pesquisa teve como objetivo central compreender a dinâmica das práticas sociotécnicas dos atores sociais e a produção de novidades associadas ao manejo sustentável da palmeira-juçara. Os objetivos específicos da pesquisa consistiram em identificar os atores sociais, descrever as práticas sociotécnicas, caracterizar as novidades e a rede de novidades interligadas. O referencial teórico-metodológico mobilizado no trabalho consistiu na interface dos elementos teóricos da Perspectiva Orientada ao Ator, Perspectiva Multinível (transições sociotécnicas) e da produção de novidades. A construção da pesquisa se deu a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa de estudo de caso onde foram utilizados elementos metodológicos da pesquisa etnográfica como a observação participante, entrevistas semiestruturadas e diálogos informais com atores sociais nas comunidades rurais de Aguapés, Vale do Maquiné, Morro Azul, Arroio do Padre e Chapada do Morro Bicudo no Litoral Norte do Rio Grande do Sul. Como resultados da análise do estudo empírico nas comunidades rurais se identificou a emergência de novidades (técnico-produtivas, organizacionais e de acesso a mercados sociais) que por sua vez, geraram novidades interligadas estabelecidas a partir das práticas sociotécnicas associadas a palmeira-juçara pelos atores sociais. / The relation between the juçara palm and the social actors on the North Coast of Rio Grande do Sul is represented by the socio-environmental conflict between illegal extractivism and the sustainable use of the species. The juçara palm in the history of the Atlantic Forest has important ecological, cultural and socioeconomic importance. In spite of the fact that the palmito cutting and theft actions carried out by environmental violators are still recurrent, many family farmers manage juçara palm in agroforestry yards, intercropping, natural occurrence areas combining agro-ecological agroforestry production and species conservation in agroecosystems in the region. The main objective of the research work was to understand the dynamics of sociotechnical practices of social actors and the production of novelties associated with the sustainable management of the palm tree. The specific objectives of the research were to identify the social actors, to describe the socio-technical practices, to characterize the novelties and the network of interlinked novelties. The theoretical-methodological framework mobilized in the work consisted of the interface of the theoretical elements of the Actor-Oriented Perspective, Multilevel Perspective (sociotechnical transitions) and the production of novelties. The construction of the research was based on a qualitative approach of case study where methodological elements of the ethnographic research were used as participant observation, semi-structured interviews and informal dialogues with social actors in the rural communities of Aguapés, Vale do Maquiné, Morro Azul, Arroio do Padre and Chapada do Morro Bicudo in the North Coast of Rio Grande do Sul. As a result of the analysis of the empirical study in rural communities, the emergence of innovations (technical-productive, organizational and access to social markets) was identified, which in turn generated interconnected novelties established from the sociotechnical practices associated with the juçara palm by the social actors.