Coffee seedlings in different substrates and protected environments

• Main Author: Silva,Arthur P. da
• Publication Date: 2013
• Other Authors: Costa,Edilson, Espírito Santo,Tiago L. do, Silva,Luan E. da, Martins,Roberta F.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Engenharia Agrícola
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-69162013000400001
• topic: Coffee arabica; cattle manure; vermiculite; commercial substrate; sand

The production of high-quality seedlings is a critical factor for successful implementation of a determined crop in the field. In order to evaluate the production of coffee seedlings, experiments were conducted with different substrates and in different protected environments. Treatments consisted of evaluation of the following substrates: 50% cattle manure + 50% commercial substrate, 50% cattle manure + 50% vermiculite, 50% commercial substrate + 50% vermiculite, 1/3 cattle manure + 1/3 commercial substrate + 1/3 vermiculite, 50% cattle manure + 50% sand, 1/3 sand + 1/3 cattle manure + 1/3 commercial substrate and 50% commercial substrate + 50% sand. These substrates were tested in different protected environments: agricultural greenhouse, mesh screen with 50% shading, aluminized screen with 50% shading, black screen with 30% shading, black screen with 70% shading, nursery with a buriti straw roof and full sunlight. In each environment, the experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with five replicates of four plants each followed by joint analysis. The substrates containing 50% cattle manure associated with vermiculite or the commercial substrate may be indicated for production of coffee seedlings. Screened environments with 30, 50 and 70% shading resulted in the highest quality seedlings.