Substracts Formulation for Ilex paraguariensis Seedling Production in Plastic Tubes

Abstract

The use of substracts with good efficiency and low cost constitutes important factor for seedlings production of forest species. The present work aimed to evaluate different materials and combinations of these, as substracts for seedlings production of Ilex paraguariensis in plastic tubes. The study was led in the nursery of the Baldo S.A. in São Mateus do Sul - PR. Six materials were used: bovine tanned manure, semi- ecomposed sawdust, pricked Ilex paraguariensis toothpick, underground soil, commercial substracts with pinus peel base and earthworm humus, with which 14 treatments were formulated. They were appraised the mortality of the seedlings at 15 and 30 days after dibbling and, to the six months, the diameter of the collect, the height, the easiness of seedlings retreat of the the plastic tubes and the aggregation of the roots to the substratum. It was also evaluated the time spent in hours for the cleaning of undesirable plants on the seedlings of each treatment up to six months after pealed. The results indicated that the treatments that contained sawdust, Ilex paraguariensis toothpick and, mainly, bovine tanned manure, besides more economical, showed good results on the seedlings quality. However, among all the tested substrata, the one formed by bovine tanned manure and semi- ecomposed sawdust (proportion 2:3) stands out in view of having only two components, resulting in larger preparation easiness, with low cost and good quality of seedlings.