ESECAFLOR PROJECT

 Study of the Drought of the Forest

 

Top view of the coverage of the experimental plot

Aerial view of the experimental plot.

Image Credits: Andrew M. Cunliffe

View below the coverage of the experimental plot

 

The ESECAFLOR project consists of two plots of 01 hectare each. These areas are delimited by trenches dug to depths ranging from 50 to 150 cm. Plot A is used as a Control for the experiments carried out in Plot B, where the exclusion of approximately 50% of rainwater is being made through a structure composed of approximately 6,000 plastic panels.

This project offers a unique opportunity to research the response of the tropical rainforest subjected to an artificially induced condition of reduced rainfall and soil moisture.

Each of the areas has a metal tower, these towers allow easy access to trees for analysis of plant physiology, among other experiments, in addition to meteorological monitoring, as well as pits for soil monitoring .

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