Emergence and early growth of <i>Caesalpinia ferrea</i> Mart. ex Tul. var. <i>ferrea</i> seedlings on different substrates

Abstract

Juca (Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. ex Tul. var. ferrea) is a tropical leguminous tree and medicinal plant used as forage in northeastern Brazil, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of substrates in the emergence and early growth of seedlings of C. ferrea. The experimental design was completely randomized with ten treatments, which were: S₁ - sand, S₂ - vermiculite, S₃ - hortimix®, S₄ - sand + vermiculite (1:1), S₅ - sand + vermiculite (2:1), S₆ - hortimix® + sand (1:1), S₇ - hortimix ® + sand (2:1), S₈ - hortimix® + vermiculite (1:1), S₉ - hortimix® + vermiculite (2:1) and S₁₀ - sand + vermiculite + hortimix® (1:1:1), in four replicates of 25 seeds. The percentage of survival, percentage and index of emergence speed, height, root length and seedling dry matter were evaluated. The highest percentage of emergence occurred in substrates S₁, S₂, S₄, S₅ and S₈ while the percentage of emerged seedling
survival was 100% in all substrates. The greater seedling height occurred in substrates S₂ and S₈, respectively. The main root length and seedling dry weight occurred in the substrate S₂. For the emergence tests sand substrate is recommended and for production of seedlings vermiculite.