Use of organic substrates in initial growth of pau-de-balsa, Ochroma pyramidale (cav. ex lam.) urb.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the use of cattle manure and sawdust on the growth of Ochroma pyramidale seedlings, a forest species with wood interests and great potential for recovery of degraded areas. The treatments were: T0 (black soil), T1 (black soil + tanned cattle manure), T2 (black soil + tanned sawdust) and T3 (black soil + tanned cattle manure + sawdust) with 15 replications each. At the end of 90 days were measured the height of the plants, the diameter of the stem base, the leaf area and determined the dry mass of the aerial part, the root and total. The addition of manure provided a three - fold increase in height and leaf area compared to the control treatment. The addition of sawdust inhibited the growth of the seedlings and showed the lowest values in all analyzed variables. It is recommended to use black soil + tanned cattle manure in a proportion of 3:1 for the production of pau-de-balsa seedlings and the use of sawdust is discouraged, even when in combination with cattle manure.