Dickson Quality Index Research Articles

EFFECTS OF WATER MANAGEMENT AND COMPOSTED SEWAGE SLUDGE SUBSTRATES ON THE GROWTH AND QUALITY OF CLONAL EUCALYPTUS SEEDLINGS

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of substrates made of composted sewage sludge and irrigation depths on the growth and quality of E. grandis x E. urophylla cuttings to optimize water management for each substrate. The substrates were obtained from sewage sludge composted with sugarcane bagasse or Eucalyptus bark, namely: composted sewage sludge with sugarcane bagasse (1:3 v:v); sewage sludge composted with Eucalyptus bark (1:3 v:v) and a mixture of both substrates in a volumetric proportion 2:1 (v:v). Commercial substrate composed of Sphagnum peat, vermiculite and rice husk (3:1:1 v:v: v) was used as a control. The irrigation depths tested were 11, 14 and 17 mm, applied in two daily applications. The substrates were physically and chemically characterized and height, stem diameter, shoot, root and total dry mass, Dickson quality index and root system conformation were measured to determine the growth and quality of seedlings. The substrates obtained through the composting of sewage sludge with sugarcane bagasse or Eucalyptus bark are fit for producing Eucalyptus cuttings, however, the water specificity of each substrate must be considered. Although an 11mm irrigation depth is indicted for the mixture of both substrates (2:1 v:v), a 17mm irrigation depth is needed for the sewage sludge composted with sugarcane bagasse (1:3 v:v) substrate.

SEWAGE SLUDGE COMPOST ASSOCIATED TO FREQUENCY OF IRRIGATION FOR Peltophorum dubium (Sprengel) Taubert SEEDLINGS PRODUCTION

Inappropriate disposal of sewage sludge has become an environmental problem. In some Brazilian states, such as São Paulo, in natura sewage sludge use is practically prohibited due to restrictive requirements by CONAMA Resolution No. 375/2006. Therefore, a very promising alternative to reuse this residue is to compost it with other materials and use it as a substrate in the production of seedlings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of the seedlings of Peltophorum dubium in compost with sewage sludge, to determine which frequency of irrigation would be more adequate according to the physical characteristics of each substrate, and if this would influence the morphological and nutritional variables of the seedlings. Two composts were produced: sewage sludge composted with sugarcane bagasse and sewage sludge composted with eucalyptus bark, both in 1: 1 proportion. Commercial substrate was used for control. This study was completely randomized in a 3x3 factorial design, which three substrates and three frequencies of irrigation were tested: two, three and four times per day. The evaluated parameters were: plant height, stem diameter ratio, shoot / root ratio, leaf dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass, green color index, Dickson quality index (IQD), water loss through leaching and substrate water retain capacity. The best results were observed in the seedlings produced in sewage sludge compound with eucalyptus bark submitted to the frequencies of two or three times a day.

PRODUCTION OF Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis SEEDLINGS WITH DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS

Mineral fertilization is an important practice that contributes to the production of seedlings with satisfactory quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the application of potassium chloride (KCl) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) on growth and nutrition of Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis seedlings. The experiment was conducted in full sun, with direct sowing in tubes containing composite substrate (Pinus bark, coconut fiber, bovine manure and vermiculite). The experimental design was a randomized block design in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, with five doses of KCl (0.0, 0.025, 0.050, 0.100, and 0.200 g seedling-1) and two doses of MAP (0 and 0.10g seedling-1), with four replicates. At 120 days, the effect of the interaction between the KCl and MAP doses was verified for the variables: diameter at root collar, dry mass of the aerial part (DMAP) and total (TDM), Dickson Quality Index, N content, P K in the aerial part, K content in the roots, absorption efficiency (AE) of N and P. For the variables: height (H); leaf area; root dry mass (RDM); H/DRC and DMPA/RDM ratios; and N and P content in the roots, only effect of the application of MAP is observed, whereas for AE_K the effect was only of KCl. Thus, there is variation in the effect of KCl doses as a function of morphological and nutritional variables evaluated. In general, the best seedling growth and nutrition occurs with the applied dose of 0.100 g KCl + 0.10 g MAP seedling -1.

SUBSTRATES, SEEDLING AGE AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE INITIAL GROWTH OF Cariniana pyriformis Miers

T The massive production of high-quality seedlings can improve the conservation and commercial reforestation plans of the Colombian mahogany ( Cariniana pyriformis Miers), a native forest species of Colombia. To contribute to this objective, two environments were evaluated. The first was an arched protected environment of structure covered with anti-thermal low-density polyethylene film to offer 50% shade and photoselective to U.V radiation, while the second was an agricultural nursery covered with black monofilament screen and mesh to offer 65% shading. Each environment adopted an experimental design of complete random blocks into a split-plot scheme. The main plot comprised five substrates that contained different volumetric proportions of river sand (SA), pine bark (PB), coconut fiber (CF), commercial compost obtained from composting poultry manure, cane dust and sawdust powder (CC), and subsoil from the study region (SS). The subplot was two seedling ages: 77 and 95 days after sowing. The values for the Dickson quality index, leaf area, dry mass of the aerial part and the root system, for both ages, was higher inside the protected environment. The agricultural nursery did not evidence substrates effect. For both environments and ages, optimal morphological attributes were not reached in the seedlings to be established in the field. The substrate based on 20% SA + 20% CC and 60% SS is the best as it increases seedling vigor, followed by the 20% PB + 20% CC + 60% SS composition.

Propagación de Forestiera phillyreoides: una especie potencial para la restauración en el Centro-Norte de México

Forestiera phillyreoides es una especie de amplia distribución en zonas semiáridas y subtropicales del país. A pesar de ser una especie común, no se cuenta con información sobre su propagación. Por lo anterior el objetivo fue generar información sobre su fructificación, su germinación bajo distintos tratamientos pregerminativos y el crecimiento de las plántulas en vivero. Se realizó una revisión de herbario y salidas a campo para conocer la fructificación. Se evaluaron ocho tratamientos pregerminativos: control, inmersión en agua 24 h, inmersión en ácido sulfúrico (3 min, 6 min, 9 min y 12 min), remoción manual de endocarpio más inmersión 24 h e inmersión 24 h en 500 ppm de GA3. Se cultivaron plántulas por siete meses, al finalizar el periodo se midió la altura, el diámetro y calculó la relación peso seco aéreo/peso seco radicular (PSA/PSR), índice de robustez e índice de calidad de Dickson. La fructificación se presenta durante los meses de marzo a junio. El tratamiento de remoción de endocarpio presentó el mayor porcentaje de germinación (95 ± 4.08), se presentó una respuesta positiva a los tratamientos con ácido sulfúrico, el tratamiento con GA3 presentó efectos negativos sobre la germinación. Las plántulas alcanzaron una altura de 31.65 cm ± 5.01 cm y un diámetro de 5.13 mm ± 0.34 mm, los valores de PSA/PSR (1.02 ± 0.17) indican resistencia a sequías. Los tratamientos que remueven o degradan el endocarpio son los más adecuados para lograr una mejor germinación. A los siete meses alcanzó los parámetros necesarios para el uso en reforestación. La información generada brinda las bases para la propagación de F. phillyreoides.

Paecilomyces variotii as A Plant-Growth Promoter in Horticulture

In the present study, P. variotii, an endophytic fungus isolated from plant roots from the Cabo de Gata Natural Park (Parque Nacional Cabo de Gata—Spain), was tested to determine the effect on the growth promotion of tomato and pepper seeds and seedlings. For these purposes, germination trials in a laboratory and two experiments in a commercial nursery and greenhouse conditions were performed. The P. variotii isolate has shown a high ability to produce siderophores and IAA, but low ability to solubilize P. High values for germination percentage, seedling vigor, root and shoot length were obtained by P. variotii on tomato and pepper against control. P. variotii applications resulted in improved most of the growth parameters evaluated, for both horticultural crops, with the best results in the development of pepper seedlings. The application of a higher dose of P. variotii improved most of the morphological parameters and the Dickson quality index (DQI) value in tomato in seedlings and plants. The establishment of the endophytic fungus at the root enabled its biostimulant effects to persist after transplantation without any additional application. Few studies have analyzed this species as a biostimulant. The positive results from the tests showed its high potential. The application of this isolate can be of enormous benefit to horticultural crops for its high reproductive and establishment capacity.

Effect of mini-cutting size on adventitious rooting and morphophysiological quality of Ilex paraguariensis plantlets

As the energizing and therapeutic effects of infusions of mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil) leaves are increasingly recognized, rising global consumption is also increasing the demand for plantlets with high genetic and morphological qualities. Mini-cuttings are an alternative for clonal plantlets; however, more details are needed on factors that affect the success of this technique. Here, toward maximizing production, we evaluated adventitious rooting competence of mini-cuttings of different sizes and the morphophysiological quality of the resultant plantlets. Small (one bud; length up to 2.5 cm), medium (multiple buds; length 2.6–5.0 cm), and large (multiple buds; length 5.1–10.0 cm) mini-cuttings were planted in a mixture of commercial substrate, vermiculite, and coarse sand (1:1:1 v:v:v), grown in a humidity chamber, then evaluated after 45, 60, 75, and 90 days for survival, percentage of callus and shoot formation, number and length of shoots, percentage of rooted cuttings, and number and length of roots. Any rooted mini-cuttings were then cultivated in commercial substrate and subsurface soil (2:1 v:v) and evaluated after 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of cultivation for morphophysiology of the plantlets, percentage of survival, number of leaves, shoot height, stem diameter, and ratio of shoot height to stem diameter. After 120 days, the plantlets were evaluated for the ratio of shoot and root dry mass, total length, surface area, total volume, and mean diameter of roots and Dickson quality index. Adventitious rooting of the mini-cuttings and the morphophysiological quality of the plantlets were not influenced by the size of the vegetative propagule. Therefore, single-bud mini-cuttings have similar adventitious rooting competence, and result in plantlets with adequate morphophysiological quality, based upon leaf development, shoot height, stem diameter and length, and surface area, volume and diameter of roots. Single-bud mini-cuttings up to 2.5 cm long can thus be used to maximize production of mate plantlets by mini-cuttings.

Organic Residues Improve the Quality and Field Initial Growth of Senna multijuga Seedlings

ABSTRACT Senna multijuga is an arboreal species well established in various Brazilian biomes, which has the potential for applications recovering degraded areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological quality in the nursery and the initial growth in the field of S. multijuga seedlings, planted in different substrates and proportions of organic residues. Copernicia prunifera residues, organic compost (OC), and decomposed stem of Mauritia flexuosa were added with samples of Yellow Latosol formulated at proportions of 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, and 80:20 (residue:soil, v:v). In the nursery, the following variables were evaluated: percentage of emergence, emergency speed index, stem diameter, shoot height, total leaf chlorophyll, leaf area, leaf area ratio, dry matter (shoots, roots, and total), Dickson quality index, and nitrogen uptake in shoots. In the field stage, shoot height, stem diameter at soil level, height/diameter ratio, and survival percentage were evaluated. In the nursery, the combination of OC and soil at a proportion of 57:43 provided the greatest seedling growth. In the field, seedlings cultivated with the decomposed stem of Mauritia flexuosa showed a higher survival rate, while seedlings cultivated in substrate based on OC showed superior growth in height and stem diameter.

Different environments and doses of controlled-release fertilizer in peach rootstocks production

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different environments and doses of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) on the initial growth of peach rootstocks [Prunus persica L. (Batsch)] cv. Capdeboscq. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2 x 4 factorial design, four replications and five plants per plot. The treatments were the combination of two cultivation environments (on open-air benches and greenhouse benches) and four doses of CRF (0, 2, 4 and 8 g L-1 of substrate), in the 19-06-10 NPK formulation. Ninety days after their transplanting, the variables plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, total dry matter, plant height and stem diameter ratio were evaluated in addition to the Dickson Quality Index. All morphological variables evaluated presented a quadratic positive response to the increase of the applied fertilizer until the dosage of maximum technical efficiency (around 6,2 g L-1). The maintenance of the plants in greenhouse benches and the incorporation of 4 g L-1 CRF to the substrate ensures greater efficiency in the input use, reducing the amount of time necessary for peach trees cv. Capdeboscq to achieve their grafting point and to be used as rootstocks.

Use of alternative organic compounds in the initial growth and quality of Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell. Brenan) seedlings

The use of renewable materials as a source of nutrients, besides being a solution of interest for waste disposal, may also be an effective way to reduce the high costs of inputs needed for the production of forestry seedlings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth of Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell. Brenan) (angico branco) cultivated in organic substrates. A randomized block design was adopted and the treatments were distributed in a 3 × 5 factorial scheme, with three organic residues: decomposed burity (moriche palm) stem, carnaúba straw and organic compost mixed with the soil in four percentages: 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the composition of substrate and a control treatment with soil only, without incorporating the organic residue, with six repetitions. Ninety days after emergence, the seedlings were collected to determine the growth parameters: stem diameter (SD), height (H), of the following indexes: H/D, leaf number (LN), total chlorophyll (T), leaf area (LA), dry mass of the aerial part (DMAP), dry mass of roots (DMR), total dry mass (TDM) H/DMAP: DMAP/DMR, and Dickson Quality Index (DQI). The treatments that contained 60% and 80% of organic compost presented the best responses. It is concluded that the production of angico branco seedlings cultivated with substrate with the addition of 80:20 (organic compost: soil) presented the best results and was technically feasible according to the characteristics and indexes analyzed.

Quality and growth of mangaba (Hancornia speciosa) seedlings according to the substrate and shading

The use of suitable substrates and growing environments are essential to produce high quality seedlings. This work evaluated shading levels and different substrates to produce mangaba seedlings. Growth environments with 0, 18, 35, and 50% shading were evaluated. In these environments, four substrates (S) were obtained from the combinations of soil (So), cattle manure (M), commercial substrate (CS), sand (Sa) and fine grain vermiculite (V), where: S1 = 0% So, 45% M, 20% CS, 20% Sa, 15% V, S2 = 15% So, 30% M, 20% CS, 20% Sa, 15% V, S3 = 30% So, 15% M, 20% CS, 20% Sa, 15% V, and S4 = 45% So, 0% M, 20% CS, 20% Sa, 15% V. For each growth environment, a completely randomized experimental design with five replications of five seedlings was adopted. The substrates S2 and S3 originated the best seedlings with the largest number of leaves, the largest dry mass of shoot, root, and total, and the highest Dickson quality index. The highest plants were obtained in the substrate S2. In the full sunlight environment, the conducted plants in S2 presented larger neck diameter. The environments with 0 and 18% of shading provided plants with larger leaves, larger aerial and total phytomass, and Dickson quality index. The environment in full sunlight promoted plants with a larger diameter. Therefore, it is recommended to produce seedlings on substrates S2 and S3 and in environments of 0 and 18% of shading.

Root pruning and Osmocote® provides better Jatoba seedlings

The species Hymenaea courbaril L. (Jatoba) is widely used in the timber industry. However, its population was reduced due to high exploitation rate, being at risk of extinction. Therefore, production of seedlings of this species should be improved to meet the demand of reforestation programs. Given the above, this study evaluates the effect of Osmocote ® rates and root pruning on the growth of Jatoba seedlings transplanted into plastic bags. A randomized complete block design was used in a 5 x 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to five rates of Osmocote ® fertilizer (0.0; 2.0; 4.0; 6.0; and 8.0 g L -1 ) and three root pruning intensities (0%; 25%; and 50%). At 105 days after transplantation, the following were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, total dry weight, height/stem diameter ratio, and Dickson quality index. Rates below 4.0 g L -1 or above 6.0 g L -1 decreased seedling quality. The most prominent variables in this study were plant height, total dry weight, and number of leaves of H. courbaril seedlings. Osmocote ® rates between 4.4 and 6.6 g L -1 combined with 25% root pruning provided the best results for the growth of transplanted Jatoba seedlings.

Use of agricultural waste material as an alternative substrate in cabbage seedling production and development

Considering the need to reduce costs in the production of seedlings, the use of agricultural wastes becomes essential. The objective of this study was to evaluate a substrate composed of agricultural residues replacing the commercial substrate. The experiment was carried out in two phases. For the first phase, seedling production, we used a completely randomized design with six treatments and eight replications, using commercial substrate (Bioplant®) and five treatments with increasing proportions of moinha/descending proportions of rice husk (0/40; 10/30; 20/20; 30/10 and 40/0%), and fixed proportions of coconut fiber (15%) and pine bark (45%). We evaluated plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, root and shoot dry masses, and Dickson quality index at 33 days after sowing. In the second experiment, cabbage development under field conditions, the treatments were maintained with four replications, using the randomized block design. We evaluated cycle length, compactness, head and stem diameter, number of basal external leaves, mass of fresh matter of the head, and commercial yield. We recommend a substrate composed of 40% moinha, 15% coconut fiber, and 45% pine bark in the production of cabbage seedlings, replacing the commercial substrate.

Controlled-Release Fertiliser and Substrates on Seedling Growth and Quality in Agonandra brasiliensis in Roraima

The aim of this study was to verify the effect of different substrates, in the presence and absence of controlled-release fertiliser, on the growth and morphological quality of seedlings of Agonandra brasiliensis Miers ex Benth. & Hook.f., in the state of Roraima, Brazil. The experimental design was a 2 * 5 factorial scheme, with and without the addition of 1.0 g L-1 NPK 18-05-09 formulation controlled-release encapsulated fertiliser (Forth CoteR) and five substrates. The following were evaluated: shoot height (H), collar diameter (CD), increase in shoot length (IncH) and collar diameter (IncCD), shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), total dry weight (TDW) and Dickson quality index (DQI). The use of NPK 18-05-09 formulation controlled-release fertiliser (Forth CoteR) in a medium-sand substrate is recommended for obtaining plants of Agonandra brasiliensis of greater robustness, balance of biomass distribution, and a high standard of quality. In the substrate composed of soil from the cerrado + carbonised rice husks - CRH + organic substrate (2:1:1), the addition of NPK 18-05-09 formulation Forth CoteR is not necessary to obtain Agonandra brasiliensis plants of good morphological quality. Substrate 3, composed of soil + CRH (3:1), with or without the addition of NPK 18-05-09 formulation Forth CoteR, is not recommended for producing plants of Agonandra brasiliensis, due to the slow development and reduced morphological quality of the plants.

Controlled release fertilizer used for the growth of Campomanesia aurea seedlings

Abstract Campomanesia aurea is a sub-shrub species native to the Pampa Biome, popularly known as “guabirobinha-do-campo”. It has an ornamental potential for use in pots or gardens due to its small size, irregular shape, intense flowering and aroma. One of the main factors for production is an adequate use of fertilizers and balanced fertilizations. The objective was to evaluate the growth of seedlings and nutrient leaf accumulation of C. aurea submitted to doses of controlled release fertilizer (CRF). C. aurea seedlings were transplanted to containers containing composted pinus bark and CRF doses of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 g L−1. Height, chlorophyll index, number of stems, base diameter, leaf area, Dickson Quality Index, shoot dry matter, root dry matter and nutrient leaf accumulation were evaluated. For height, base diameter and number of stems, the point of maximum response was at the concentration 6.8, 6.6 and 6.9 g L−1 CRF, respectively. For shoot dry matter, leaf area and chlorophyll, we verified increase up to the concentration 8.1, 7.8 and 8.0 g L−1, respectively. There was a positive quadratic behavior for most nutrients, with the exception of Cu and Mn, which linearly increased with the increase of fertilizer dose. The application of CRF on C. aurea seedlings between 7 and 8 g L−1 substrate promoted an increase on the main growth characteristics of ornamental importance and provides superior results on nutrient leaf content.

Hormonal imbalance triggered by rhizobacteria enhance nutrient use efficiency and biomass in oil palm

A bacterial isolate was investigated for its application in growth promotion of the palm plants seedlings (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in the nursery. The isolate was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens UFRAB01 by sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene. The hormone stimulus strain increased by 66% Indole-Acetic Acid (IAA), 44% Abscisic Acid (ABA), as well as increased macro and micronutrients content per plant. In the inoculated plants there was a 24% reduction in 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid (ACC) levels. Inoculation promoted plant growth by increasing shoot dry matter by 110%, 123% root dry matter, 39% plant height and 19% stem diameter (SD), as well as the Dickson quality index (IQD), all in comparison to the control plant. The results of this work reveal that the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is able to alter the hormonal balance of the plant, increase the growth rates, as well as reduce chemical fertilizer use in palm oil plants by 50%.The improvement in the morphophysiological performance induces precocity, reducing the formation time of the seedlings in two months and the costs of production by reducing the use of chemical fertilization in the nursery period. The strain B. amyloliquefaciens UFRAB01 has the potential to promote the growth of palm oil plants.

Alternative Substrates and Fertilization Doses in the Production of Pinus cembroides Zucc. in Nursery

Rooting substrate and fertilization are key components in the production of containerized seedlings, as they can influence the morphological and physiological characteristics of the plants, which in turn can impact outplanting performance. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of four substrates based on mixtures of peat moss (PM), composted bark (CB) and raw pine sawdust (PS), combined with two doses of controlled release fertilizer (CRF) and one non-fertilized control, on the growth of Pinus cembroides Zucc. in the nursery. The treatments were: M1: 50+25+25, M2: 25+25+50, M3: 25+50+25 and M4: 50+50+0 of PM+ CB+ PS (% by volume), respectively. Fertilizer treatments used a controlled release fertilizer (Multicote®): F1: 3 kg m−3 and F2: 6 kg m−3 and a control (WF: with no added fertilizer). The treatments were distributed in a randomized complete block design, with a factorial arrangement of 4 × 3 and six replications. The variables evaluated were: height, seedling diameter, dry biomass, Dickson Quality Index, N, P and K content. Regardless of the substrate, the high fertilizer dose (6 kg m−3) improved most morphological variables. In addition, the high fertilizer dose resulted in foliar N, P and K concentrations within recommended ranges for all substrates. The substrate containing only peat moss and composted bark (M4 + F1 and M4 + F2) had the best growth response. However, the substrate composed of 25% peat moss, 50% composted bark and 25% raw pine sawdust with the high fertilizer dose (M3 + F2) resulted in acceptable seedling growth, and may be preferred if the cost of the substrate is a concern to nursery manager.

Adaptation of Cedro-Vermelha, Tarumã-Azeitona, Ingá-Doce, Branquilho-Bravo and Ocotea-Guaicá Seedlings to Shading Levels

Abstract As native tree species are often used for densification, enrichment and degraded areas recovery, a better understanding of the behavior of their seedlings in response to light exposure is needed. This study evaluates the growth and morphological behavior of five native forest species of the Brazilian Mixed Ombrophilous Forest under shading levels of 90%, 50%, and 0%. The species were measured for height to root collar diameter (RCD) ratio (H:D), leaf area (LA), Dickson’s quality index (DQI), and stem, leaf, and root biomass. The LA did not differ among the treatments for three species and did not differ among species in full sun. The results for H:D ratio, DQI, and biomass indicate better growth in treatments with greater light availability. The species are recommended to be used as follows: Cedro-vermelha in full sun; Taruma-azeitona, Inga-doce, and Ocotea-guaica in varying environmental conditions; and Branquilho-bravo in 50% shade and full sun conditions.

Porównanie parametrów wzrostowych i przydatności hodowlanej jednorocznych sadzonek buka zwyczajnego (Fagus sylvatica L.)

The aim of the study was to compare the growth parameters and the indicators of seedlings’ breeding usefulness assessment depending on their quality class, which was determined on the basis of the requirements of the Polish standard PN-R-67025 (1999). The research material consisted of European beech seedlings grown in controlled conditions, which were divided into three quality classes (“class I”, “class II”, and “classless”). The seed lings belonging to individual classes differed significantly in their growth parameters, with the exception of the length of the root system, and the highest values were characteristic of quality class I. The breeding usefulness assessment indicators did not fully confirm this rule. The average value of the Dickson quality index (DQI) indicated that class I seedlings would be the most suitable for planting, but for the sturdiness quotient (SQ) no significant difference was obtained, and the classless seedlings had the best root-shoot ratio (S/R). The obtained results indicate that some classless seedlings can be used for planting in a forest plantation despite the failure to meet the minimum values of growth traits contained in the PN-R-67025 standard used by the State Forests. Our research also suggests that in the assessment of the quality of planting material, as an element complementing the dimensional classification, we can include indicators of breeding suitability (SQ, S/R, and DQI).

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

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.