Phytotechnical and nutritional parameters of fig tree seedlings grown in different proportions of decomposed stem of the buriti palm

Abstract

Abstract: Plant and fruit quality is a reflection of several factors, one of which is the way the seedlings were produced. The aim of this study was to analyse the phytotechnical and nutritional characteristics of fig tree seedlings (Ficus carica L.) produced in a substrate comprising decomposed stems of the buriti palm (Mauritia flexuosa L.). A randomised block design was used, with treatments distributed in a 5x6 factorial scheme with one additional treatment, arranged in five blocks. The substrates included the following levels of decomposed buriti stems: 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%, with a different decomposition time (0; 15; 30; 45; 60 and 75 days) for each treatment. There was one additional treatment comprising 100% soil. The following variables were evaluated to determine the effects of the treatments: number of leaves (NL), number of branches (NB), leaf chlorophyll index, diameter of the largest shoot (DLS), length of the largest shoot (LLS), leaf area (LA), root length (RL), root volume (RV), shoot fresh matter (SFM), root fresh matter (RFM), shoot dry matter (SDM) and root dry matter (RDM), with a chemical analysis of the shoots and soil before and after setting up the experiment. The proportion of decomposed buriti palm stem in the substrate yielded significant results for the morphological variables, including the number of leaves, shoot fresh matter, root fresh matter and root volume. For the nutritional variables relating to the aerial part of the seedlings, the proportion of substrate yielded significant results for the levels of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. There were no significant results from the decomposition time; however, multivariate analysis showed that by the end of the experiment the nutrient concentration in the soil was higher than before the experiment.

Keywords

• Organic substrate
• Proportions
• Cuttings
• Ficus Carica L.