This work was carried out to verify the effect of substratum base saturation on seedling growth and quality of Machaerium nictitans. A complete randomized design with four replicates was utilized. Three different soils were used as substratum, and, in each, the original saturation was raised to the following values: Red-yellow Clay soil, 50, 60 and 70%, Red-yellow Dystrophic Latosol, 30; 50 and 70%; and Red-Yellow alic Latosol 25; 45 and 65%. The morphological parameters of the seedlings, height of the aerial part, stem diameter, dry matter of the aerial part, roots and total were tested, as well as the relation between height of the aerial part and stem diameter, height of the aerial part and its dry matter weight, dry matter weight of the aerial part and dry matter weight of the roots and the Dickson's quality index. Based on the data obtained, it was concluded that the best seedlings of Machaerium nictitans were obtained at the following base saturation values: at 60% on the Red-Yellow Clay soil, at 70% on the Red-Yellow Dystrophic Latosol, and at 40% on the Red-Yellow alic Latosol.
Native forest species; acid soils and morphological characteristics
