Abstract
The production of passion fruit seedlings constitutes one of the important stages of the production system and the importance of substrate for the seedlings growth and plant performance in the field. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different composting organic wastes in the substrate composition for production of yellow passion fruit seedlings. The experiment had been conducted in the Centre of Human, Social and Agricultural Sciences at The Federal University of Paraiba. The experimental design was randomized block design, with six treatments, goat composite + soil (CCP+S), poultry composite + soil (AC+S), bovine composite + soil (CB+S), rabbit composite + soil (CCO+S), earthworm humus + soil (MH + S), and soil (S) and S in the ratio of 2:1 (v/v) and five repetitions. Emergency speed index, emergency percentage, stem diameter, seedling height, leaf number, root length, fresh root mass, shoots fresh mass, total of fresh mass, dry mass of root, dry mass of branches, total dry mass, chlorophyll a, b and total, and Dickson quality index were assessed. The compounds in the constitution of substrates exerted significant effect on the characteristics evaluated in the passion fruit, which may be related to the availability of nutrients to the substrate. The substrates containing CCP+S and CCO+S provided better growth, chlorophyll contents and quality of “Serra” yellow passion fruit seedlings. Key words: Initial growth, Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg., waste reuse, chlorophyll indexes.
Highlights
The yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) is native from tropical America, with more than 150 native species of Brazil, intensively cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries (Faleiro et al, 2008)
Treatments with composite treatments goat composite + soil (CCP+S) and CCO+S provided better speed of emergence index and emergency percentage (Table 2), possibly these substrates have adapted better moisture retention conditions sufficient to allow for better germination, combined with good aeration of the substrate (Smiderle and Minami, 2002; Penteado, 2007)
The treatment used consisting of CCP + S provided increment in the height of passion fruit seedlings "Serra" (Table 2)
Summary
The yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) is native from tropical America, with more than 150 native species of Brazil, intensively cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries (Faleiro et al, 2008). For Cavalcante et al (2005), the Brazilian Northeast is recognized as a region that offers edaphic aptitude and climate for fruticulture and among the fruit the yellow passion fruit stands out, with favor conditions for their growth, production and fruit quality (Pires et al, 2008). This species may be sexually and asexually propagated but cultivation through seed is the most used way (Ferreira et al, 2001). The substrate has a fundamental role in the plant growth requiring secure the shoot growth and development of root system (Silva et al, 2010)
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