Growth and seedling quality of Senna macranthera (Collad.) Irwin et Barn. in response to calagem

Abstract

The present work was developed with the objective of verifying the influence on the base saturation of the substratum in the initial growth and seedling quality of the Senna macranthera (fedegoso) seeds. A complete randomized design in blocs with four repetitions per treatment was utilized. Three different soils were used as a substratum, and for each, the original saturation was raised to the following values: red- yellow claysoil 50, 60, and 70%; red-yellow dystrophic latosoil 30, 50, and 70%; red-yellow alic latosoil 25, 45, e 65%. The seedlings morphological parameters, their relationships and the Dickson's quality index were evaluated. The fedegoso seedlings did not present any significant difference to any of the characteristics evaluated in the argisoil, with the largest average values in the 70% base saturation. In the red-yellow dystrophic latosoil and the alic latosol there was a significant difference in all of the evaluated characteristics, except for the height of the aerial parts in the former soil and for the weight of the dry material of the aerial part of the latter one, with the 65% base saturation providing the best seedling of the species.