This work aimed to study the use of treated domestic wastewater from a biological treatment system as an alternative for a seedling-nursery conventional fertirrigation (irrigation fertilization) of Croton floribundus Spreng. (Euphorbiaceae) and Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (Leguminosae Caesalpinioideae) production. The variables analyzed monthly were seedling height and diameter and shoot and root dry matter weight, leaf area, shoot/root ratio, leaf and substrate chemical status (before and after the experiment) and periodical waste water nutritional analyses. Plant growth was greater when chemical fertilizers were used, but root development was greater when treated wastewater was used (which was thought to promote increased survival in the field). The results showed that wastewater can be used for fertirrigation of tree nurseries, since all plants have demonstrated vigor and good development with no mortality, deficiency or toxicity symptoms. Seedlings fertirrigated with wastewater, however, will spend more nursery time, when compared to those fertirrigated with mineral fertilizers.
Fertirrigation; wastewater; tree seedling production; Croton floribundus; Copaifera langsdorfii
