Exotic forest species have been used for soil reclamation, as well as helping in the control of water and wind erosion. In the southwest of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, the Pinus elliotii Engelm. and the Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm., were tested with the objective of evaluating the growth of these species and testing its capacity for reducing the arenization process. The treatments consisted of planting the two species on the degraded soil by arenization (DS), on the native grassfield (C), on the native grassfield associated with cover crops (C + PC) and on the degraded soil associated with cover crops (DS + PC). As cover crops were tested the black oat (Avena strigosa Schieb.) and a Lupinus native from the southern grassfields ecosystem, the Lupinus albescens H. et Arn.. The plants survival rate, height, basal diameter and the productivity factor of the forest species were obtained in the thirty days, six months and twelve months after planting. The experiment was conduced in completely randomized design, and results submited to Duncan test, in level of 5% error probability. In relation to initial survival, only pine presented significative differences, with lesser percentual in the treatment C+PC. Results showed that Eucalyptus benefited from the consortium with cover crops, while pine presented greater sensibility to interespecific competition.
cover plants; soil reclamation; revegetation; wind erosion
