Reuse of Residues as Substrate for Production of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus urograndis) Seedlings

Ismail Ramalho Haddade,Marcelo Rodrigo Krause,Karoline Matiello Almeida,Louise Pinto Guisolfi,Gevson Roldi Junior,Paola Alfonsa Vieira Lo Monaco

doi:10.1590/2179-8087.014018

Abstract

Studies about crop residue management have become essential due to the possibility of their use in forest seedlings production. This study evaluated the effect of coffee moinha (MO) on substrates composed of vermiculite (VE), coconut fiber (CF) and carbonized rice husk (CRH) in the development of Eucalyptus seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with five treatments of increasing proportions of MO/decreasing proportions of CRH (0/28, 7/21, 14/14, 21/7 and 28/0%) and fixed proportions of VE (36%) and CF (36%) in the substrate. At 85 days after planting, the following parameters were assessed: shoot height, stem diameter, root dry mass, shoot dry mass, emergence percentage and Dickson’s quality index (DQI). The results showed CRH could be fully substituted by MO (28%) in the substrate composition because the assessed variables presented lower values than the control treatment (0% MO + 28% CRH + 36% VE + 36% CF). Moreover, the maximum vegetative development in Eucalyptus seedlings was achieved when CRH was replaced by up to 20% MO. In this way, MO becomes an alternative as a substrate component for Eucalyptus seedlings production.

Highlights

AND OBJECTIVESSeedlings grown in forest nurseries provide planting stocks for implantation of forest stands, recovery of degraded areas, urban afforestation and parks, among other purposes (Walker et al, 2011)
This study evaluated the effect of coffee moinha (MO) on substrates composed of vermiculite (VE), coconut fiber (CF) and carbonized rice husk (CRH) in the development of Eucalyptus seedlings
The results showed CRH could be fully substituted by MO (28%) in the substrate composition because the assessed variables presented lower values than the control treatment (0% MO + 28% CRH + 36% VE + 36% CF)

Summary

Introduction

AND OBJECTIVESSeedlings grown in forest nurseries provide planting stocks for implantation of forest stands, recovery of degraded areas, urban afforestation and parks, among other purposes (Walker et al, 2011). One of the most important stages in the establishment of tree plantations is the production of quality seedlings, conditioned by adequate seeds and substrates (Silva et al, 2014). The production of good quality seedlings depends on the germination processes, as well as the formation of the root and shoot systems, which are directly related to the aspects that define the substrate efficiency, such as aeration, drainage, water retention and nutritional content (Caldeira et al, 2008). The type of potting technique may influence seedling quality and production costs (Kostopoulou et al, 2011). In this context, the conical plastic pot (“cone-tainer”) is the most popular for forest seedling production (Wendling & Dutra, 2010)

Methods

Results

Conclusion