La disponibilidad de luz limita la producción frutícola del calafate en un matorral mixto nativo (Río Negro, Argentina)

Abstract

Light availability and calafate fruit production in a native mixed shrubland (Río Negro, Argentina). Non-timber forest products (NTFP), such as wild berries, are of great importance for rural communities and vulnerable social groups due to the economic income they might generate and their role in these people’s nutrition. To optimize forest plants productivity is necessary to study their ecological needs, such as light availability. Calafate (Berberis microphylla) fruits are NTFP of interest. However, there is little information about the relation between their productivity and light availability. In this study, the potential of a native mixed shrubland as supplier of calafate fruits and its relation with light availability was analyzed. To achieve this, the presence and number of fruits in calafate plants naturally established in a native shrubland in El Foyel, Río Negro, and exposed to different light intensities were evaluated. An estimation of the productivity of the shrubland sampled was also made for different levels of light availability. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the data. It was found that greater canopy openness corresponded to a higher probability of fruiting and to a greater number of fruits per plant. In addition, a positive relationship was found between plant height and number of fruits. It was estimated that the highest fruit production would be found in a 100% canopy openness scenario, in which case, ~54.87 kg/ha would be obtained. It was concluded that light availability is an essential factor for calafate fruiting. Moreover, considering that the average canopy openness of the sampled shrubland was 22.2%, it is considered that an appropriate environmental management is necessary to optimize the use of this species in a sustainable and economically convenient way.