Abstract
Abstract The present study aimed to assess the behavior of seedlings of Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake growing on different substrates and irrigation levels, and to study the use of urban waste compost in substrates. The experiment was carried out in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Department of Agricultural Engineering, Jaboticabal Campus, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design used was completely randomized, consisting of 30 treatments in a factorial design with 15 substrates and two irrigation levels in four replicates. The substrates were composed of different materials: urban waste, Plantmax(r), dry cattle manure, vermiculite and soil. For the study of seedling growth, the following characteristics were evaluated: height (H), root-collar diameter (D), number of leaves, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, total dry weight, H/D ratio, Dickson's quality index, and the ratio between height and shoot dry weight (H/SDW). Assessments of the first three characteristics were carried out 20, 35, 50 and 65 days after sowing. Results showed that urban waste compost increased the growth of Schizolobium parahyba. There were significant differences for the irrigation levels tested; with better results for 150% ET compared to 100% ET irrigation level.
Highlights
One of the greatest concerns of mankind is the increase in urban waste production
The aim of this study was to assess seedling growth of Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake cultivated in substrates composed of different combinations of five materials, including urban waste compost; as well as to analyze the effect of irrigation on the growth of these seedlings under nursery conditions
The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in an area belonging to the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias – Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal Campus, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, (21°15’15”S, 48°18’09”W; 595 m)
Summary
One of the greatest concerns of mankind is the increase in urban waste production. Waste can cause serious environmental problems if disposal is done without safe criteria. Among the main positive effects of waste compost application is the variation of chemical attributes in acid soils, such as increase in pH, neutralization of exchangeable acidity, reduction in potential acidity, increase in organic carbon content and in the availability of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and increase in cationic exchange capacity (Kiehl 1985; Xin et al 1992; Wong et al 1998; Abreu Junior et al 2000; Oliveira 2002), which may represent improvement in the chemical, physical and biological properties of the substrate used that may positively affect seedling production. It is very important that, during cultivation, water and nutrients are provided in adequate quantities and that the physical properties of the substrate are not limiting. For substrates with lower water retention capacity (rice hull ash, sand, crushed coal, etc.), for example, irrigation must be more frequent or at higher volume than for substrates with higher water retention capacity (subsoil earth, organic compost, humus, coconut fiber, etc.) (Wendling & Gatto 2002)
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