Organic Substrates and Controlled Release Fertilizers in the Production of the Cedar Seedlings (Cedrela fissilis)

Abstract

The cost of production of seedlings impacts the costs incurred both in commercial planting and in planting for revegetation of degraded areas. Substrates produced with alternative organic compounds and controlled release fertilizers (FLC) can reduce costs, shorten the time spent in the nursery and produce seedlings of better quality forest species. This work, in greenhouse, evaluated the effect of substrates and doses of fertilizers on the development and quality of seedlings of Cedrela fissilis. The substrates were: soil + organic compound (1: 1), and soil + composite + sand (2: 1: 1), in a factorial scheme with doses (0, 4, 8, 16 and 32 g) of FLC / kg of substrate. The organic compound was produced with 50% ruminal content + 50% cane bagasse, and the FLC used had the following composition (15-09-2 + micronutrients). The best development and best quality of seedlings of Cedrela fissilis was achieved with the soil substrate + organic compound (1: 1). The doses ranging from 19.8 to 23.0 g FLC per kg of substrate provided the best seedlings regardless of the substrate used.