Abstract
Controlled-release fertilizers are great allies in the production of seedlings. However, there is a lack of studies focusing on the use of these fertilizers in native forest species. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of controlled release fertilizers (CRF) on the development and quality of seedlings of Handroanthus heptaphyllus (Vell.) Mattos. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions with plastic cover for a period of 150 days. The pots were distributed in randomized blocks, using twenty plants per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of four doses of CFR Osmocote ® (0, 4.1, 8.2 and 12.3 g dm -3 ) in the formulation NPK 15-09-12, with four replications. The following variables were evaluated: seedling height (H), stem diameter (SD), root length (RL), number of leaf pairs (NLP), leaf area (LA), shoot dry mass (SDM), root dry mass (RDM), total dry mass (TDM), H/SD ratio, Dickson's quality index (DQI) and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD). All evaluated parameters responded significantly to the increasing doses of the CRF. The best responses were found for the doses between 8.5 to 9.5 g dm -3 , considering the evaluated experimental conditions.
Highlights
Handroanthus heptaphyllus (Vell.) Mattos, commonly referred to as the pink trumpet tree, is a Bignoniaceae tree native to tropical regions with phytogeographic distribution in the Brazilian Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest
After 60 days of transplanting, the following parameters were evaluated: seedling height (H), using a ruler graduated in centimeters from the soil surface to the tip of the apical bud; stem diameter (SD), using a digital caliper near the soil surface; root length (RL), after removing the seedlings from the nurseries, using a ruler graduated in centimeters, the length of the pivoting root was measured; and number of leaf pairs (NLP)
Shoot dry mass (SDM), in g plant-1, root dry mass (RDM), in g plant-1, and total dry mass (TDM), in g plant-1, were obtained, which were determined after drying in an oven with forced air circulation at 60 °C until constant weight
Summary
Handroanthus heptaphyllus (Vell.) Mattos, commonly referred to as the pink trumpet tree (or “Ipê Rosa” in Portuguese), is a Bignoniaceae tree native to tropical regions with phytogeographic distribution in the Brazilian Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest. The pink trumpet tree is an arboreal species, deciduous, reaching up to 30 m in height and 100 cm in diameter It is often found in areas of native vegetation in Brazil and other Latin American countries, such as Argentina, southern Bolivia, eastern Paraguay and Uruguay, in environments with rainfall ranging from 1000 mm to 1900 mm annually and temperatures ranging from 18 to 26 °C (CARVALHO, 1994). Research on the production of native seedlings is still scarce, mainly regarding the germination potential, development of native tree seedlings and the composition of the substrate for the production of seedlings (OLIVEIRA et al, 2016; ZAMITH and SCARANO, 2004) This information is directly related to the quality of seedlings, which will interfere with growth and adaptability in the field (GARCIA; SOUZA, 2015). Substrate fertility or substrate base fertilization is a relevant factor for the growth of more resistant plants
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