Container volume and controlled-release fertilizer in growing Cabralea canjerana plants produced in nursery

Abstract

The speed at which native tree species are pressured by human action is larger than their conservation established silvicultural knowledge. Cabralea canjerana is a high commercial value species widely distributed throughout Central America and South America; however, its production depends on basic information. The main aim of the current study was to assess the effect of different volume containers as well as that of different controlled-release fertilizer - CRF doses on the production of Cabralea canjerana seedlings, in nursery stage. The following factors were used: volume tubes (110 and 180 cm³) and doses of CRF (0; 2.5; 5; 7.5; 10 and 12.5 g L^-1 substrate). The following variables were assessed at 210 days: height, crown diameter, shoot dry matter, root and total, Dickson quality index, leaf area and root length. Higher doses of controlled release fertilizer (FLC) had positive influence on the growth of seedlings. For the production of plants of Cabralea canjerana, the use of containers of 180 cnv⁵ associated with doses of 11.5 g L^-1 CRF -a combination reflected in morphological parameters that can ensure their survival- is recommended in the countryside. The hypothesis that the use of larger volume containers positively affects the growth, independent of the dose of fertilizer used, was accepted. In addition, further studies comparing other combinations of container volume and rates of CRF, different from those used in this work, are recommended, to increase production efficiency in nurseries and guarantee the quality of plants of Cabralea canjerana.