New organic substrates and boron fertilizing for production of yellow passion fruit seedlings

• Published in: Archiv für Acker- und Pflanzenbau und Bodenkunde Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 445 - 455
• Main Authors: da Silva-Matos, Raissa Rachel Salustriano, da Silva, Gabriel Barbosa, de Souza Marques, Adenaelson, Monteiro, Maciel Lima, Cavalcante, Ítalo Herbert Lucena, Osajima, Josy Anteveli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.03.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: boron; experimental design; growing media; Mauritia; Mauritia flexuosa; nutrition; Passiflora edulis; Passiflora edulis Sims; roots; sand; seedling emergence; seedling production; seedling quality; seedlings; shoots; soil
• ISSN: 1476-3567; 0365-0340; 1476-3567
• DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2015.1050000

The identification of alternative substrates suitable for seedling production is very important, while boron nutrition is also relevant due to plant requirement and its difficult management. Thus, four experiments were carried out from October 2012 to April 2013 to evaluate the effect of substrates using decomposed buriti (Mauritia vinifera Mart.) stem (DBS) and boron fertilizing for seedling production of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims). The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 6 × 2 + 1, referring to the substrates [S1: DBS, S2: soil and sand 1:1 (20%) + DBS (80%), S3: soil and sand 1:1 (40%) + DBS (60%), S4: soil and sand 1:1 (60%) + DBS (40%), S5: soil and sand 1:1 (80%) + DBS (20%), S6: commercial substrate (additional treatment) and S7: soil, sand and manure 1:1:2] with and without boron. The seedling emergence, emergence rate, plant height, stem diameter, root length, root volume and dry mass of roots and shoots were recorded. The substrates S2 (without B fertilizing) and S4 (B fertilized with 0.5 mg dm ⁻³) produced seedlings with more than 3.0 g of shoot dry mass and at least 30 cm in height, and can be used for production of high-quality yellow passion fruit seedlings.