Growth of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth seedlings under different irrigation levels

Abstract

The objective of this work was to produce seedlings of a caatinga forest species (Sabiá – Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth) submitted to different levels of irrigation, in the forest nursery of the Rural Health and Technology Center/CSTR, Campus de Patos – PB. A completely randomized design (DIC) was followed, with 5 irrigation levels (L) according to the water needs of the plants (NH), as follows: L1 (100%NH); L2 (80%NH); L3 (60%NH); L4 (40%NH) and L5 (20%NH). Growth evaluations of seedlings of the forest species were carried out at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing (DAS), that is, four evaluations were carried out. The variables evaluated were: plant height (AP), number of leaves (NF), leaf area (AF), stem diameter (DC) and absolute and relative growth rates of plant height, stem diameter and stem diameter. number of sheets in two periods. In the growth phase of the forest species Sabiá irrigated with 60% and 80% of the water requirement resulted in larger plants, in height with 43.93 cm and 43.71 cm, respectively at 120 DAS. The average of leaves at 90 DAS was 45 leaves applying 80%NH and using goat substrate in cultivation. At 120 DAS, the stem diameter had the highest mean (3.8 mm) when applying 80% of the water requirement, while the lowest mean was obtained in plants irrigated with 20% NH (2.6 mm). The irrigation depth of 80% NH had the highest absolute growth rate of plant height with a daily increment of 1.14 cm. Based on the data obtained, it is not recommended to use 20% NH and 40% NH, which plants had their growth affected by water stress. The indicated irrigation depth is 80% NH to obtain larger plants in a shorter period of time.