Abstract
We investigated different dormancy breaking methods and substrates for Samanea tubulosa seedlings. Four substrate formulations were tested: SCO: commercial substrate; BBA: decomposed babassu biomass + soil (1:1); BBU: buriti biomass + soil (1:1); and BCA: carnauba bagana + soil (1:1), and three dormancy breaking methods: EM: mechanical scarification; IA: immersion in water; and EQ: chemical scarification. The highest seedling emergence was in BCA substrate with chemical scarification. BCA and SCO provided the highest average seedling height, root length, root volume, root density, diameter at neck height, number of leaves, aboveground dry mass, belowground dry mass, and Dickson quality index values. Therefore, BCA can be used as a substrate for the production of S. tubulosa seedlings, and the immersion in water method is optimal when combined with a BBU substrate.
Highlights
Unsustainable agricultural practices for land use and management conducted by farmers in the humid tropics, such as along the periphery of the Amazon in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, are factors related [1] that increase soil degradation [2]
The experiment was conducted from April to June 2018 at the Center for Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CCAA) of the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil (3°44ʹ12.62′′S, 43°19ʹ03.51′′E, and 105 m above sea level)
similar to those in the control (SCO) was composed of pine bark and vermiculite (Plantmax HT®) and was used as a control, and soil used in the formulation of BBA, BBU, and BCA was collected from the 0-20 cm soil layer in the UFMA/CCAA experimental area
Summary
Unsustainable agricultural practices for land use and management conducted by farmers in the humid tropics, such as along the periphery of the Amazon in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, are factors related [1] that increase soil degradation [2]. The use of native species is an important alternative in the recovery of degraded areas, as it allows the protection and enrichment of the soil, the control of erosion, less loss of water through evaporation and greater biological activity [5]. According to Dutra et al (2013) [10], mechanical scarification, chemical scarification (usually with sulfuric acid), and hot water immersion are the notable methods for breaking the dormancy of seeds of forest species. These methods aim to dissolve the waxy cuticular layer, reducing the hardness of the integument and allowing an accelerated and uniform seed germination process
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