Growth and Quality of Leucochloron incuriale Seedlings Subjected to Liming and Phosphorus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Leucochloron incuriale can be used in projects to restore degraded areas and for logging purpose. Soil has been used in nurseries to produce seedlings; however, most soil types in Brazil have low nutrient availability and high acidity level. The aim of the current study is to assess the effect of liming and phosphate fertilization on the growth and quality of Leucochloron incuriale seedlings. Treatments were arranged in factorial design with five base saturation levels – 3.5 (original), 25, 40, 55 and 70% – and six P levels – 0, 120, 240, 360, 480 and 600 mg dm–3 – in completely randomized blocks with four repetitions. The morphological features and their relations were assessed 82 days after planting. Phosphorus levels had significant effect on most of the assessed traits. The recommended P dose was 475 mg dm–3.

Keywords

• base saturation
• phosphate fertilization
• seedling production