Water requirement and growth indicators of forest tree species seedlings produced with automated irrigation management

Abstract

The lack of information regarding the water requirement of tree species promotes water waste in the seedlings production in nurseries. Water requirement, the growth plant factors and water efficiencies for height and diameter were determined for Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake, Cytharexylum myrianthum Cham. and Ceiba speciosa Ravenna seedlings, under greenhouse conditions and automated irrigation management. We used sewage sludge biosolids as substrate in the seedling phase (280 cm-3 tube), and sandy soil material in the initial pot growth phase (18 dm-3 pot). In the seedlings phase, four water replacement levels were applied to the substrate, by drip irrigation, meaning average replacement ranging from 40 (V1) to 100% (V4) of species water requirement. Seedlings developed properly and 80 days after emergency, S. parahyba, C. myrianthum and C. speciosa seedlings received, respectively, 2.40, 1.08 and 0.85 L per plant, for V4. After growth phase (230 DAE), the total water volumes were, respectively, 70.0, 50.3 and 52.7 L per plant. Under adequate water supply, there were rapid recovery and growth of the species, even for the seedlings which showed different height and diameter in the tube phase. The growth plant factors values found were below 0.5 for all species indicating low sensibility to growth, both in height and in diameter, in response to water deficit. Water efficiency indicators point to distinct trends between the two phases, and C. speciosa present higher values of water efficiencies for height (80.7 and 17.0 cm L-1) and diameter (2.1 and 0.5 mm L-1) in both phases.

Growth and metabolism of <i>Pityrocarpa moniliformis</i> Benth. seedlings under water deficit

“…Knowledge of the level of water stress tolerance on the development of native forest species is fundamental for seedling production (BUENO et al, 2020). No reports were found about the eco-physiological responses of Pityrocarpa moniliformis subjected to water deficit.…”

Irrigation Water Quality in Selected Water Bodies of East Mediterranean Basin of Turkey

“…Besides the limitations in the amount of the irrigation water, the irrigation qualities of the waters in the basin are crucial to be inspected to determine the applicability of the irrigation water for the intended plantings [4]. Because of the incorrect irrigation water usage, farmers face a lack of efficiency or plant decays besides time and economic losses, and targeted planting cannot be achieved [5][6][7]. To prevent these losses, classification of the irrigation waters for intended purpose becomes valuable [8].…”