Crescimento do mandacaru em diferentes níveis de NaCL em substrato fibra de coco e turfa

Abstract

Brazilian Northeastern is deprived of alternatives of people living with the semi-arid region and sources that generate income and permanence of family farmers in the countryside. An alternative is the use of the ornamental potential of several native species such as mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru Mill). In this study, we analyzed the growth of mandacaru seedlings intended for ornamental use under the effect of different saline solutions and substrates. The seedlings, approximately 1 cm long, were submitted to five saline solutions (electric conductivity): S1 - control (0,0); S2 (1-1.3 dS.m-1); S3 (2-2.3 dS.m-1); S4 (3-3.3 dS.m-1) and S5 (4-4.4 dS.m-1), on substrate coconut fiber and soil peat. With 60 days after germination, the following parameters were analyzed: height of external plant, diameter above substrate level, root system length, total fresh mass, total dry mass and Dickson Quality Index. Mandacaru seedlings showed a decline in physiological growth as the salinity increase of irrigation water. In all evaluated parameters there was higher efficiency of the substrate soil peat in the absence of NaCl diluted in water in the production of Mandacaru seedlings. However, in general, no significant differences were observed between the substrates when the seedlings were submitted to salinity in the irrigation. It is concluded that for ornamental purposes it is possible to use saline water in the production of Mandacaru seedlings, and it is recommended to use peat and coconut fiber as a substrate.