Organic substrates and their effects on the emergence and initial growth of Tamarindus indica seedlings

Abstract

The reuse of organic waste and destination as alternative substrates becomes an important strategy for the production of economically viable and ecologically sustainable forest seedlings. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of different substrates and compositions (proportions) on the emergence and initial growth of Tamarindus indica seedlings. For this, nine different substrates were formulated: bovine manure (EB), buriti paú (PB) and carnauba residue (RC) in the proportions of 75%, 50% and 25% complemented with washed sand and an additional treatment only with washed sand, considered as control. T. indica seeds were sown and conducted for 50 days. The following were evaluated: emergency speed index; mean emergence time, height of the shoot, diameter of the stem, number of leaves, length of the root system, dry mass of the shoot, dry mass of the root system, total dry mass and Dickson's quality index. For the variables of emergence of tamarind seeds, treatments with bovine manure and 25% buriti paú more efficient. In the growth of the seedlings, the best results of diameter, number of leaves, production of dry mass of the root system, aerial part or total part of the seedlings, in addition to Dickson's quality index were found in the proportion of 50% of bovine manure, followed by buriti paú. These results indicate that the substrates bovine manure and paú de buriti in the proportion 50% are the most suitable for the preparation of substrate for the production of T. indica seedlings.