Terra Ronca State Park: A potential natural <i>Cratylia argentea</i> (Desv.) Kuntze conservation area in Goiás, Brazil

• Main Authors: Eduardo Pacca Luna Mattar, Walter José Rodrigues Matrangolo, Bruno Portela Brasileiro, Elizio Ferreira Frade Junior, Thais Aguiar de Albuquerque, João Ricardo de Oliveira, Juliana de Paula-Souza, Denise Cunha Fernandes dos Santos Dias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical 2020-09-01
• Series: Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales
• Online Access: https://www.tropicalgrasslands.info/index.php/tgft/article/view/691

Cratylia argentea (cratília) is a neo-tropical leguminous plant with high resprouting ability, showing great potential as both an animal feed and to fertilize the soil through its N-fixing ability. During scientific expeditions carried out in 2016 to identify and collect germplasm in different states of Brazil, the Terra Ronca State Park (PETeR) stood out as a potential conservation area for this species. There, cratília is well adapted to the dry season, retaining green leaves even during extended dry periods and was found to develop a shrub or climbing habit, depending on light conditions. In the traditional cattle production systems of the region livestock readily consume cratília, making it an important asset for local inhabitants. Based on several populations identified and collected in PETeR, the value of traditional knowledge and use of cratília is discussed as is the potential role of the Park as an in situ conservation unit.