Type of container and Trichoderma spp. inoculation enhance the performance of tree species in enrichment planting

Abstract

Complementary techniques such as enrichment plantations are used in increasing the diversity of understory of forests undergoing restoration. The choice of suitable species and the development of strategies capable of enhancing the initial establishment of seedlings are crucial for its success. Thus, we aimed to characterize the performance of five native tree species in an enrichment plantation in the extreme south of the Atlantic Forest Biome and identify the effects of substrate volume used in the production of seedlings and Trichoderma spp. inoculation on survival, initial growth, and physiology of planted species. The species used were Cabralea canjerana, Cedrela fissilis, Cordia trichotoma, Erythrina cristagalli, and Luehea divaricata. The experiment was conducted in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme, and the factors are types of containers used in the production of seedlings (180 cm polypropylene tubes and 1500 cm3 polyethylene bags) and three inoculants (control, Trichoderma asperelloides, and Trichoderma harzianum). The seedlings were planted between the lines of mixed plants, in a randomized block design with four replicates. We evaluated survival, the increase in height and diameter of collected seedlings, content of photosynthetic pigments, and the fluorescence of chlorophyll a. The studied species showed satisfactory survival and growth rates at 15 months after planting, indicating that it is able to affect enrichment plantations in areas undergoing restoration in the extreme south of the Atlantic Forest Biome. In enrichment practices, the survival and morphophysiological aspects of the species evaluated were not affected by type of container, suggesting a 180 cm3 polypropylene tube for seedling production. The use of T. asperelloides benefits the physiology and growth of C. canjerana, C. fissilis, and C. trichoma, and is an important tool for enhancing its development in fields.