Water management in hardening Maytenus ilicifolia (Schrad.) Planch. seedlings

• Autor(a) principal: Dranski, João Alexandre Lopes
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Malavasi, Ubirajara Contro, Malavasi, Marlene de Matos
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Biotemas (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/2175-7925.2017v30n1p45

This study evaluated the effects of seedling height and irrigation management on Maytenus ilicilofia seedlings. The experiment used a completely randomized design in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. Seedlings of two height classes (greater than or less than 18.0 cm) were subjected to three irrigation regimes (daily irrigation, irrigation every other day, and gradual reduction of irrigation). After eight weeks, the morphophysiological and performance attributes of the seedlings were quantified. Gradual reduction of irrigation promoted the highest rate of net carbon assimilation. Irrigating every other day resulted in greater secondary growth rate, biomass accumulation in the shoot and root tissues, and lower electrolyte leakage rate. After planting, these treatments maintained higher leaf relative water content (RWC). RWC in seedlings smaller than 18 cm was significantly higher until the third week after planting. Therefore, larger seedlings submitted to hardening by gradually reducing irrigation improves seedling quality.