MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SEEDLINGS OF TWO TROPICAL FOREST SPECIES PROPAGATED IN BIODEGRADABLE CONTAINERS AND STYROBLOCK TRAYS

Abstract

The function of any container for the propagation of forest species is to contain the substrate that supplies roots with water, air, mineral nutrients and provides physical support to the plant while it stays in the nursery. The aim of this study was to assess the technical feasibility of using biodegradable containers (made from coconut fiber) compared with trays of 60 and 77 Styroblock cavities for the propagation of two tropical forest species, Enterolobium cyclocarpum and Tabebuia rosea. A completely randomized design with six treatments and four repetitions was used. After three months in the nursery, the plants of E. cyclocarpum in coconut fiber containers reached a height of 24.8 cm, which was significantly higher (Pr> F = <0.0001) in regard to plants of the same species that were placed into trays of 60 and 77 cavities (14.9 cm). The diameter of the neck of the root of T. rosea and E. cyclocarpum in the first kind of containers showed significant differences (Pr> F = <0.0001), which resulted in two groups (Tukey α = 0.05); the first one, with the largest diameters (6.2 to 5.5 mm) in the two species that were in the biodegradable containers and the second, which includes the trays of 60 and 77 cavities (2.7 to 3.3 mm). In both taxa the total biomass (aerial and root) was higher in coconut fiber containers, although the values obtained in E. cyclocarpum (4.69 g) were significantly higher compared to those of T. rosea (3.66 g). These containers do not pollute, and produce high quality plants.