Efficiency of hydrogel and mulching in the survival and growth of Guarea guidonia

The current study assessed the efficiency of hydrogel and mulch in survival, height and diameter growth of Guarea guidonia (L.) Sleumer seedlings as technique for forest restoration of degraded areas. Four treatments were assessed in open site presenting exposed and compacted soil. Control treatment: only planting seedlings. Treatment 1: planting seedlings in plots exposed to hydrogel. Treatment 2: planting seedlings and depositing mulch around them. Treatment 3: planting seedlings in plots exposed to hydrogel and mulch depositing around seedlings. Using hydrogel in planting seedlings, mulch deposition around seedlings, or the combination of both, increase the survival rate and favors greater diameter and height growth in G. guidonia seedlings, as well as enhances forest restoration through seedling planting in degraded sites located in regions subject to water shortage.