Morphological and nutritional evaluation of ‘caraíba’ seedlings in different substrates using domestic sewage effluent for fertirrigation

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effects of fertigation with domestic sewage effluent and different substrates on the growth of Caraíba seedlings (Tabebuia aurea Benth). The experiment was accomplished in a greenhouse in Mossoró, RN. Five irrigation solutions (100% of water supply - WS, 100% of domestic sewage effluent – DS and dilutions of 75% DS + 25% WS, 50% DS + 50% WS e 25% DS + 75% WS) were tested and two substrates (75% soil + 25% bovine manure and 75% soil + 25% coconut fiber) using completely randomized design in subdivided plots with three replicates per treatment. Growth and development parameters were measured at 30, 60, 90, and 150 days after cultivation. The variables shoot height, collar diameter, height/diameter ratio, dry matter of root, shoot and total (root and shoot), shoot/root ratio, Dickson quality index, and nutritional evaluation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium were determinate. We verified that the use of domestic sewage increased growth and quality of caraíba seedlings, besides promoting nutrient accumulation in the plants grown in substrate of bovine manure plus soil with 100% application of domestic sewage in the fertigation.