Guava (Psidium guajava L.) trees in a pasture: population model,sensitivity analyses,and applications

A preliminary demographic model is presented for a population of guava (Psidium guajava L.) trees in a pasture. In this paper special attention is devoted to describing both the calculation and testing of the parameters of the model. Some applications of the model are described. It is predicted that the guava population will gradually decline; low seedling survival (due to chemical control of pasture weeds) seems to be the factor governing this trend. Preliminary analyses of total gross energy production and economic income, with and without the guavas, favours the presence of the trees in pastures.