Different substrates for seedling production of Euterpe Oleracea Mart.

• Main Authors: Oscar José Smiderle, Aline das Graças Souza, Renata Diane Menegatti, Thayane de Jesus Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Firenze University Press 2020-02-01
• Series: Advances in Horticultural Science
• Subjects: morphological characteristics, seedling production, alternative substrates
• Online Access: https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ahs/article/view/7651
• ISSN: 0394-6169; 1592-1573

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of substrates involving different combinations of soil, cattle manure, burnt rice husks, sand and commercial substrate on growth in the açai palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) under nursery conditions in the State of Roraima. The experiment was conducted in the Fruit-Farming Sector of Embrapa Roraima, located in the district of Boa Vista. The experimental design was completely randomised, with nine treatments and four replications of five plants per replication. The treatments were T1: sand, T2: commercial substrate (OrganoAmazon©), T3: 25% T1 + 75% manure, T4: 50% T1 + 50% manure, T5: 75% T1 + 25% manure, T6: 25% T1 + 75% burnt rice husks, T7: 50% T1 + 50% burnt rice husks, T8: 75% T1 + 25% burnt rice husks and T9: 25% soil + 25% sand + 25% manure + 25% burnt rice husks. The morphological characteristics plant height (H), stem diameter (SD) and number of leaves (NF) were evaluated every 30 days from transplanting to the end of the experiment (210 days). The root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW), total dry weight (TDW) and the Dickson quality index (DQI) were obtained at 210 days. The substrates composed of 50% sand + 50% manure and 25% soil + 25% sand + 25% manure + 25% burnt rice husks are indicated for the production of seedlings of Euterpe oleracea Mart., as they provide superior growth in plant height and stem diameter, and improve total dry-weight production in the plants.