Substrates and light restriction on the production of Ficus gomelleira Kunth seedlings

Abstract

Ficus gomelleira is a forest species that presents fast initial growth and low pest attack but no studies on its nursery seedling development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of shading and substrate on the production of F. gomelleira seedlings. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a subdivided 4 x 11 plot with 4 replicates of 20 plants. The light conditions were full sun, 30%, 50% and 70% shading. The substrates were 1-Soil; 2-Soil + limestone; 3-Soil + limestone + cattle manure; 4-Soil + limestone + simple superphosphate; 5-Soil + limestone + simple superphosphate + cattle manure; 6-Solo + thermophosphate; 7-Solo + thermophosphate + bokashi; 8-Soil + Azospirillum brasilense + simple superphosphate; 9-Soil + A. brasilense + thermophosphate; 10-Soil + Pseudomonas fluorescens + single superphosphate; 11-Solo + P. fluorescens + thermophosphate. The shoot and root biomass production and the H/D ratio were higher in the soil + cattle manure substrates. Higher values were observed in diameter, plant height, number of leaves, root dry mass, shoot dry mass, total dry mass and IQD in the 30% shading condition. IQD was high (greater than 10) in all substrate and shading. Ficus gomelleira seedlings can be produced with higher quality in a nursery with 30% shading and in substrate with 25% cattle manure. The morphological parameters height, diameter, total dry mass, shoot dry mass, shoot and root dry mass ratio, and IQD provide good indications of nursery seedling quality.