The gallery forests of Central Brazil are very diverse, but over the last two decades, recurrent fires, deforestation and mining activities have become increasingly threatening to their maintenance. Impoverishment of the fauna, erosion and other consequences followed their disappearance. Therefore, the establishment of some criteria to restore the gallery forest is urgent. The objective of this study was to analyse the responses of Sclerolobium paniculatum to four shading levels, which simulated gallery forest conditions. The experimental design was randomised with four treatments containing 15 replicates each. The treatments were: full sunlight (0% shading), representing a fully degraded site; a gap condition (average 50% shading); a closing canopy condition (70% shading) and, closed canopy condition (90% shading). Base stem diameter, height, number of leaves and leaflets were measured every two months during twelve months. Dry weight was determined at the end of the experiment. The highest values of biomass and base steam diameter were attained in gaps and full sunlight conditions, suggesting that it is a pioneer species. Therefore, Sclerolobium paniculatum should be planted at the initial stage of succession in degraded forests.
Gallery forests; light; shading; Brazil