Nursery and field growths of Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings produced in different containers and fertilizer doses

Abstract

Studies on the early development of forest species usually only analyze their nursery growth, not taking the post planting into account. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the survival and growth under nursery and field conditions of Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings produced with different container volumes and controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) doses. The treatments were composed of two containers volumes (110 and 180 cm 3) with five CRF doses (0; 3; 5; 7; and 9 g L-1). At the nursery, at 150 days after sowing, the following attributes were evaluated: height (H); stem diameter (SD); shoot (SDM), root (RDM) and total dry matter (TDM); and Dickson quality index (DQI). At 360 days after the field planting, the survival, H and SD were measured. It was found interaction between factors for SD and significant effects of container volume for SDM, RDM, TDM and DQI. The maximum technical efficiency dose (MTED) of CRF in the nursery ranged from 6.50 to 9.74 g L-1. This allowed recommending the CRF dose for the fast seedling outplanting. The negative effects from base fertilization absence were identified on the seedlings field survival, yet there was no influence of the tested treatments on their growth 360 days after planting. For producing Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings, it is recommended using 110 cm 3 containers with a CRF dose of 3 g L-1 , which provides suitable performance on the outplanting and after it. However, doses above 7 g L-1 can reduce the seedlings nursery time in about six months after sowing.

Production Techniques of Arboreal Species Seedlings and Use of Mulching in an Altered Area

“…Increases in height and stem diameter, CA and SDM of seedlings of C. sylvestris and H. heptaphyllus, in addition to the CA and SDM of P. rigida, were favored by the use of the plastic bags, possibly due to the higher volume of the substrate provided by such container. Field growth for seedlings of forest species produced in diff erent recipient volumes has already been verifi ed by other studies (Gasparin et al, 2017;Zavistanovicz et al, 2020), and in most of them, a larger volume is associated to the greater development of the seedlings in the fi eld, as evidenced by Morais Junior et al (2020). This occurs because when the seedlings are produced in containers of small dimensions, they require a series of actions to favor their growth, due to the smaller volume of substrate in the container, less amount of available nutrients, as well as, less accumulation of water (Davide et al, 2015), while for larger containers, such as plastic bags, the opposite is evident.…”

“…The species C. sylvestris, H. heptaphyllus and P. rigida, widely found in the south region, are among those recommended for use to cover altered areas. Although many studies have been carried out in order to evaluate factors that aff ect the development and establishment of tree species (Abreu et al, 2015;Zavistanovicz et al, 2020), these studies are usually not performed in altered environments. Thus, it is important to know the morphological and physiological attributes of tree species, in order to predict their potential for use in restoration projects.…”