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NITROGEN SOURCES AND DOSES ON GROWTH AND QUALITY OF SEEDLINGS OF Cassia grandis AND Peltophorum dubium 1

FONTES E DOSES DE NITROGÊNIO NO CRESCIMENTO E QUALIDADE DE MUDAS DE Cassia grandis E Peltophorum dubium

ABSTRACT

The demand for seedlings of Brazilian native tree species has increased due to the growing number of recovery projects for degraded areas. In order to obtain success in the revegetation, high quality seedlings should be used. Among the factors that affect the quality of seedlings there is nitrogen fertilization, since nitrogen (N) is one of the nutrients required in the largest amount by plants. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the response of Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium seedlings to N sources and doses. The treatments were represented by a factorial of three sources (ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate and ammonium sulfate) by five N doses (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg dm-3), arranged in randomized complete block design, with four replicates. After 145 days of sowing, were obtained: height (H), collar diameter (CD), shoot dry matter (SDM), root dry matter (RDM), total dry matter (TDM), and calculated the dry matter mass ratio of shoot and root (SDM/RDM) and the Dickson Quality Index (DQI). Nitrogen fertilization resulted in growth gains and improved the seedlings quality of both species. However, the sources and the source × doses interaction were not significant for all variables. For the studied substrate (Red-Yellow Latosol) the recommended dose is 185 mg dm-3 of N for the production of Peltophorum dubium seedlings. For the production of Cassia grandis seedlings was not able to find the optimum dose of N.

Keywords:
Plants nutrition; Seedling production; Nitrogen fertilization

RESUMO

A demanda por mudas de espécies nativas tem aumentado devido ao crescente número de projetos de recuperação de áreas degradadas. Para o sucesso da revegetação, devem ser utilizadas mudas de qualidade, e entre os fatores que influenciam a qualidade, destaca-se a fertilização nitrogenada, uma vez que o nitrogênio (N) é um dos nutrientes requeridos em maior quantidade pelas plantas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a resposta das mudas de Cassia grandis L. f. e Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub. às fontes e doses de N. Os tratamentos foram representados por um fatorial de três fontes (nitrato de amônio, nitrato de cálcio e sulfato de amônio) e cinco doses de N (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 mg dm-3), dispostos no delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Após 145 dias da semeadura, foram obtidos: altura (H), diâmetro de coleto (DC), massa de matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA), da raiz (MSR), e total (MST), e calculada a relação entre a massa de matéria seca da parte aérea e raiz (MSPA/MSR) e o índice de qualidade de Dickson (IQD). A fertilização nitrogenada resultou em ganhos no crescimento e qualidade das mudas de ambas as espécies estudadas. As fontes e a interação fontes × doses não foram significativas para todas as variáveis estudadas. Para as condições estudadas, recomenda-se a dose de 185 mg dm-3 de N para a produção de mudas de Peltophorum dubium. Para a produção de mudas de Cassia grandis não foi possível encontrar a dose ótima de N.

Palavras-chave:
Nutrição de plantas; Produção de mudas; Fertilização nitrogenada

1. INTRODUCTION

The demand for Brazilian native tree species seedlings has risen due to the increasing number of recovery projects for degraded areas. Depending on the degradation level of the site to be recovered, planting of seedlings may result in a higher survival rate and initial growth compared to other recovery methods, such as natural regeneration and no-tillage. According to Parrota (1992)Parrotta JA. The role of plantation forests in rehabilitating degraded tropical ecosystems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 1992;41(2):115-33., competition with grasses, unfavorable microclimatic conditions for establishment of plants, low availability of soil nutrients and seed bank reduction, are factors that hinder the natural regeneration of tropical forests. In this case, although costly, intervention by planting fast growing native species seedlings is more efficient in relation to establishment time, accelerating the recovery process (Suganuma et al., 2008Suganuma MS, Barbosa CEA, Cavalheiro AL, Torezan JMD. Enriquecimento artificial da diversidade de espécies em reflorestamentos: análise preliminar de dois métodos, transferência de serapilheira e semeadura direta. Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences. 2008;30(2):151-8.).

The seedlings attributes necessary for the success of forest plantations have been termed “seedling quality” (Fonseca et al., 2002Fonseca, PV, Valeri, SV, Miglioranza, E. Padrão de qualidade de mudas de Trema micrantha (L.) Blume, produzidas sob diferentes períodos de sombreamento. Revista Árvore. 2002;26(4):515-23.). According to Carneiro (1995)Carneiro JGA. Produção e controle de qualidade de mudas florestais. Curitiba: UFPR/ FUPEF/UENF; 1995. 451p., quality seedlings are those that present characteristics to resist the adverse conditions that may occur after planting, presenting higher growth and initial survival, and consequently, less need for replanting and lower frequency of crop treatments and maintenance. The quality standard of seedlings can be defined by physiological or morphological parameters, being the morphological ones more used due to a more intuitive understanding by the nurserymen (Gomes et al., 2002Gomes JM, Couto, L, Leite, HG, Xavier, A, Garcia, SLR. Parâmetros morfológicos na avaliação da qualidade de mudas de Eucalyptus grandis. Revista Árvore. 2002;26(6):655-64.).

In addition to the use of good quality seedlings, with adequate nutrition and substrates, species adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the environment should be chosen (Gonçalves et al., 2005Gonçaslves, JLM, Santarelli, EG, Moraes Neto, SP, Manara, M.P. Produção de mudas de espécies nativas: substrato, nutrição, sombreamento e fertilização. In: Gonçalves JLM, Benedeti V, editores. Nutrição e fertilização florestal. Piracicaba: IPEF; 2005. p.309-50.). The native species have been preferred in recovery projects for degraded areas because they are more adapted to the site and to help return the ecological functions of the area (Furtini Neto et al., 1999). The Fabaceae family presents a wide diversity of species and versatility of uses, besides playing an important role in the dynamics of the ecosystems (Longo et al., 2011Longo RM, Ribeiro AI, Melo WJ. Recuperação de solos degradados na exploração mineral de cassiterita: biomassa microbiana e atividade da desidrogenase. Bragantia. 2011;70:132-8.), favoring the nutrient cycling (Franco et al., 2003Franco AA, Resende AS, Campello EFC. Importância das leguminosas arbóreas na recuperação de áreas degradadas e na sustentabilidade de Sistemas Agroflorestais. Seropédica: Embrapa Agrobiologia; 2003. (Sistemas Agroflorestais e Desenvolvimento Sustentável)), improving soil fertility and stimulating the biological activity, since its litter constitutes a source of organic matter rich in nutrients, mainly N (Gonçalves et al., 2005Gonçaslves, JLM, Santarelli, EG, Moraes Neto, SP, Manara, M.P. Produção de mudas de espécies nativas: substrato, nutrição, sombreamento e fertilização. In: Gonçalves JLM, Benedeti V, editores. Nutrição e fertilização florestal. Piracicaba: IPEF; 2005. p.309-50.).

Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium, belong to the Fabaceae family and subfamily Caesalpinioideae, are used in landscaping projects (because they are very ornamental), civil construction (Lorenzi, 2002Lorenzi H. Árvores brasileiras: manual de identificação e cultivo de plantas arbóreas nativas do Brasil. 4ª. ed. Nova Odessa: Instituto Plantarum; 2002. v.1) and recovery of degraded areas (Carvalho, 1988Carvalho PER. Louro-pardo. Boletim de Pesquisa Florestal. 1988;17:63-6.). Both species develop in environments with low fertility, although they present higher growth in soils with good fertility and deep, well drained and with clayey texture (Carvalho, 2002Carvalho PER. Canafístula. Colombo: Embrapa Florestas; 2002. (Circular Técnica, 64)., 2006Carvalho PER. Cássia-Rósea. Colombo: Embrapa Florestas; 2006. 8p. (Circular técnica, 117).).

Despite the potential use of native forest species for logging purposes, or for the enrichment of forests and recovery of degraded areas, their use is still hampered due to the lack of information on their nutritional requirements for seedling production, establishment and development in the field of these species (Gonçalves et al., 2010Gonçalves EO, Paiva, HN, Neves, JCL, Gomes, JM. Crescimento de mudas de sanção-do-campo (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.) sob diferentes doses de macronutrientes. Scientia Forestalis. 2010;38(88):599-609.).

The N is one of the nutrients absorbed in larger amounts by plants, being part of several plant molecules and structures (Cantarella, 2007Cantarella H. Nitrogênio. In Novais RF, Alvarez VH, Barros NF, Fontes RLF, Cantarutti, RB & Neves JCL. (Eds.). Fertilidade do Solo 2ª ed. Viçosa, Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência do Solo; 2007. p.376-449.). Its deficiency limits growth and forest production (Nambiar, 1989Nambiar EKS. Plantation forests: their scope and perspective on plantation nutrition. In: Bower GD, Nambiar EKS, editors. Nutrition of plantation forest. London: Academic Press; 1989. p.1-15.), being necessary nitrogen fertilizations when the demand of the plant is greater than the supply by the substrate.

Plants differ in preferences for N sources, and absorb it mainly in inorganic forms such as nitrate (NO3-) and/or ammonium (NH4+) (Williams and Miller, 2001Williams LE, Miller AJ. Transporters responsible for the uptake and partitioning of nitrogenous solutes. Annual Review of Plant Physioloy and Pant Molecular Biology. 2001;52:659-88.). According to Cantarella (2007)Cantarella H. Nitrogênio. In Novais RF, Alvarez VH, Barros NF, Fontes RLF, Cantarutti, RB & Neves JCL. (Eds.). Fertilidade do Solo 2ª ed. Viçosa, Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência do Solo; 2007. p.376-449., the efficiency of N recovery from fertilizers varies according to soil type, species, fertilizer doses, management, incidence of pests and diseases and environmental conditions. The study of the responses of species to the application of N is necessary to correct management of fertilization, providing greater growth of the plants and optimization of the use of inputs.

Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the response of Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium seedlings to the application of sources and doses of N.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

The experiment was carried out at the Research Nursery of the Department of Forestry Engineering at the Federal University of Viçosa, in Viçosa, located in Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais.

The substrate used was a dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol taken at 20-50 cm depth. Subsequently, the soil was air-dried, sieved and characterized by chemical (Table 1) and physical attributes (570 g kg -1 clay, 110 g kg -1 silt, 190 g kg-1 coarse sand and 130 g kg-1 fine sand).

Table 1
Chemical analysis of soil samples (Red-Yellow Latosol) used for the seedlings production of Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium.
Tabela 1
Análise química do solo Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico utilizado na produção das mudas de Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium.

The soil acidity correction was made based on the results of the analyses, using a mixture of CaCO3 and MgCO3 (4:1), so as to raise the base saturation to 60 %. After the incorporation of the lime, the soil was incubated for 30 days and the moisture content maintained close to the field capacity.

After the incubation period the soil was placed in pots with a capacity of 1.5 dm3 and a macronutrient solution was applied in the following doses: P = 300 mg dm-3 (NaH2PO4.H2O), K = 100 mg dm-3 (KCl) and S = 40 mg dm-3 (K2SO4) as suggested by Passos (1994)Passos MAA. Efeito da calagem e de fósforo no crescimento inicial da algaroba (Prosopis juliflora (SW) DC) [tese] Viçosa MG: Universidade Federal de Viçosa;1994., and micronutrients, at the doses: B = 0,81 mg dm-3 (H3BO3), Cu = 1,33 mg dm-3 (CuSO4.5H2O), Mo= 0,15 mg dm-3 [(NH4)6Mo7O24.4H2O], Mn = 3,66 mg dm-3 (MnCl2.H2O) e Zn = 4,0 mg dm-3 (ZnSO4.7H2O), according to Alvarez et al. (2006)Alvarez V VH, Dias LE, Leite PB, Souza RB de, Junior ESR. Poda de raízes e adubação para crescimento do cafeeiro cultivado em colunas de solo. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo, 2006;30:111-9.. Fertilization with macro and micronutrients was performed for both species and based on recommendations for perennial species, since there is no recommendation for them.

The seeds of Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium were acquired from the Society of Forest Investigations (SIF). Cassia grandis seed dormancy breakdown was performed by mechanical scarification with sandpaper, and for Peltophorum dubium a chemical scarification was carried out with sulfuric acid for 20 minutes.

Five seeds were sown per pot during 25 days, after this period the thinning was done, leaving only one seed per pot.

The treatments were represented by a factorial 3 × 5 (three sources and five doses of N), arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The sources of N were: ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] and ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4], and the doses (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg dm-3 of N) were divided into four applications at 25, 50, 75 and 100 days after transplanting.

The 145 days after sowing, the height (H) and collar diameter (CD) of the seedlings were measured using a ruler graduated in centimeters and a digital caliper with a precision of 0.01 mm, respectively. The dry matter (DM) was evaluated by the separation in aerial parts and roots, which were taken to the forced circulation oven at 65 °C until obtaining a constant mass. After weighing, the shoot dry matter mass (SDM), root dry matter mass (RDM) and total dry matter mass (TDM) were obtained and also the dry matter mass ratio of shoot and root (SDM/RDM) and the Dickson Quality Index (DQI), using the formula:

DQI = TDM g H cm / C D mm + SDM g / R D M g

The data was interpreted statistically by means of analysis of variance and regression equations using Statistica 8.0 software (Statsoft, 2008Statsoft Inc. Statistica data analysis system version 8.0. Tulsa: 2008.). In the choice of the regression equations, the significance of the regression parameters and the coefficient of determination (R²) were considered. The Pearson correlation coefficient was also calculated to evaluate the correlation between the dependent variables.

3. RESULTS

Nitrogen fertilization resulted in significant gains in seedling growth of the species studied. For Cassia grandis, a significant effect of N doses was observed for all evaluated characteristics. A similar result was observed for Peltophorum dubium, where N doses were also significant for H, CD, TDM, SDM, RDM and DQI. Sources × doses interaction did not have a significant effect for both species.

Most of the characteristics evaluated presented a positive linear response as a function of nitrogen fertilization and it was not possible to obtain the maximum point within the studied dose range. The mean height obtained at the dose of 200 mg dm-3 of N was 51.3 cm and 39.5 cm, for the seedlings of Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium, respectively. From the dose of 50 mg dm-3 of N, the height of the Cassia grandis seedlings exceeded that of Peltophorum dubium, being the response rate due to the nitrogen fertilization superior to that presented by Peltophorum dubium seedlings.

Table 2
Summary of analysis of variance of the characteristics and relations studied in seedlings of Cassia grandis, valued at 145 days after sowing.
Tabela 2
Resumo da análise de variância das características e relações estudadas em mudas de Cassia grandis, avaliadas aos 145 dias após a semeadura.
Table 3
Summary of analysis of variance of the characteristics and relations studied in seedlings of Peltophorum dubium, valued at 145 days after sowing.
Tabela 3
Resumo da análise de variância das características e relações estudadas em mudas de Peltophorum dubium, avaliadas aos 145 dias após a semeadura.

For the collar diameter, the response to nitrogen fertilization was similar for both species. Peltophorum dubium collar diameter had a 40 % increase at the maximum dose studied in relation to the control, and for Cassia grandis this increase was 60 %.

The magnitude of SDM response as a function of N doses was also similar between Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium, with an increase of almost 0.06 g plant-1 for each mg dm-3 of N added. The RDM of the Peltophorum dubium seedlings presented a quadratic response to the applied N, being the dose for maximum production equivalent to 177.7 mg dm-3 of N and the critical dose of 104.5 mg dm-3 of N. A quadratic response was also observed for TDM of Peltophorum dubium seedlings, and the critical dose was 184 mg of dm-3 N. The total dry matter mass with 200 mg dm-3 of N was 28.6 g plant-1 for the seedlings of Cassia grandis, representing an increase of more than three times in relation to the seedlings that did not receive nitrogen fertilization.

None of the species presented the SDM/RDM ratio equal to 2.0, which is considered adequate according to Gomes and Paiva (2012)Gomes JM, Paiva HN. Viveiros florestais: propagação sexuada. Viçosa, MG: Universidade Federal de Viçosa; 2012., and this value was obtained in doses higher than the highest dose studied.

Both species presented a linear response of the DQI in relation to N doses. With the dose of 200 mg dm-3 of N the seedlings of Cassia grandis had a DQI equal to 3.9 and Peltophorum dubium a DQI equal to 7.2, being the response of Peltophorum dubium to N fertilization twice as high as that presented by Cassia grandis.

Figure 1
Shoot height (H) (a), collar diameter (CD) (b), shoot dry matter (SDM) (c), root dry matter (RDM) (d), total dry matter (TDM) (e), dry matter mass ratio of shoot and root (SDM/RDM) (f), and Dickson Quality Index (DQI) (g) to seedlings of Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium to 145 days after sowing, in response to nitrogen fertilization.
Figura 1
Altura da parte aérea (H) (a), diâmetro do coleto (DC) (b), massa de matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA) (c), massa de matéria seca da raiz (MSR) (d), massa de matéria seca total (MST) (e), relação entre massa de matéria seca da parte aérea e massa de matéria seca da raiz (MSPA/MSR) (f), índice de qualidade Dickson (IQD) (g) para mudas de Cassia grandis e Peltophorum dubium aos 145 dias após a semeadura, em resposta à fertilização nitrogenada.

Among the dependent variables, for Cassia grandis, TDM was the characteristic that had the highest correlation with the variables evaluated: H (r = 0.78), CD (r = 0.83), SDM (r = 0.93), RDM (r = 0.93), and DQI (r = 0.93). The same was observed for Peltophorum dubium, where the correlation between TDM and the variables studied were: H (r = 0.74), CD (r = 0.86), SDM (r = 0.93), RDM (R = 0.90) and DQI (r = 0.96).

4. DISCUSSION

The response of plants to nitrogen fertilization varies according to species, site, dose and source of nitrogen (Marques et al., 2006aMarques VB, Paiva HN, Gomes JM, Neves JCL. Efeitos de fontes e doses de nitrogênio no crescimento de mudas de sábia (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.). Scientia Forestalis. 2006a;(71):77-85.). Ammoniacal sources may be preferred and advantageous for plants, since the ammonium absorption presents lower metabolic energy expenditure compared to nitrate, being the nitrate reductase action in the roots not necessary (Grespan et al., 1998Grespan SL, Dias LE, Novais RF. Crescimento e parâmetros cinéticos de absorção de amônio e nitrato por mudas de Eucalyptus spp submetidas a diferentes relações amônio/nitrato na presença e ausência de fósforo. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo. 1998;22:667-74.). Preferential response to ammonium sulfate was found for Piptadenia gonoacantha seedlings by Marques et al. (2009)Marques LS, Paiva, HN, Neves, JCL, Gomes, JM, Souza, PH. Crescimento de mudas de jacaré (Piptadenia gonoacantha J.F. Macbr.) em diferentes tipos de solos e fontes de nitrogênio. Revista Árvore. 2009;33:81-92., who observed greater growth of seedlings with the application of this source compared to ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate.

However, species may exhibit distinct preferences in relation to the source absorbed as a consequence of the available form of N in the environment in which it adapts. According to Rosa et al. (2011)Rosa LS, Grossi F, Wendling I, Brondani GE. Adubação nitrogenada na fertirrigação de minicepas de Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. In: Anais do 5º Congreso Sudamericano De La Yerba Mate. Posadas: INYM/ INTA/INaM; 2011. p.77-82., plants adapted to acid soils or with low redox potential usually use ammoniacal forms, whereas those adapted to soils with high pH, preferably use nitric forms. Santin et al. (2014)Santin D, Wendlong I, Benedetti EL, Nagaoka RE. Fontes de nitrogênio e técnicas de propagação de mudas atuam na produtividade de erva-mate. In: Anais do 6º Congreso Sudamericano de Yerba Mate. Montevideo: Grupo Interdisciplinario de Yerba Mate y Salud; 2014. p.46-54. evaluated the productivity of Ilexparaguariensis as a function of different N sources and observed that its preference for nitrogen source is dependent on the place of origin of the crop. A similar result was observed (Moore and Keraitis, 1971Moore, CWE, Keraitis K. Effect of nitrogen source on growth of Eucalypts in sand culture. Australian Journal of Botany. 1971;19(2):125-41.) who assessed the growth of 12 Eucalyptus species in relation to the N-NO3- and N-NH4+ and found that plants of ecological habitat similar tend to have similar responses in relation to the preferred source absorbed.

For the species studied, no differential response was observed among the sources tested. Cantarella (2007)Cantarella H. Nitrogênio. In Novais RF, Alvarez VH, Barros NF, Fontes RLF, Cantarutti, RB & Neves JCL. (Eds.). Fertilidade do Solo 2ª ed. Viçosa, Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência do Solo; 2007. p.376-449. points out that even when applying an ammoniacal source in a soil with aerobic conditions and high temperatures, it can predominantly present N in the form of nitrate. According to this author, ammoniacal N is oxidized to nitrate in an interval of approximately 15 to 30 days, being difficult, from the practical point of view, to obtain the advantages of the ammoniacal sources. Feitosa et al. (2011)Feitosa, DG, Maltoni, KL, Cassiolato, AMR, Paiano, MO. Crescimento de mudas de Gonçalo-Alves (Astronium fraxinifolium) sob diferentes fontes e doses de nitrogênio. Revista Árvore. 2011;35(3):401-11. also did not observe an influence of source in the growth of Astronium fraxinifolium seedlings in a Red Latosol, which corroborates the results of this study.

N doses resulted in significant gains in seedling growth and quality, showing the importance of this nutrient in the initial growth phase of Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium.Venturin et al. (1999)Venturin N, Duboc E, Vale FR, Davide AC. Adubação mineral do angico amarelo (Peltophorum dubium) (Spreng) Taub.). Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira. 1999;34(3):441-8. worked with Peltophorum dubium seedlings, using a Red-Yellow Latosol with low nutrients availability, where they applied a complete treatment (with N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B and Zn), one with the omission of one nutrient at a time, and a control (natural soil). Although they did not evaluate the best dose of N for the growth of this species, these authors observed that nitrogen is one of the limiting nutrients for the growth of Peltophorum dubium.

Similar results, with a positive response to the application of nitrogen fertilizers, have been observed: Apuleia leiocarpa (Nicoloso et al., 2001Nicoloso FT, Fogaça MAF, Zanchetti F, Missio E. Nutrição mineral de mudas de Grápia (Apuleia leiocarpa) em argissolo vermelho distrófico arênico: (1) Efeito da adubação NPK no crescimento. Ciência Rural. 2001;31(6):1-8.), Eremanthus erythropappus (Venturin et al., 2005Venturin N, Souza PA, Macedo RLG de, Nogueira FD. Adubação mineral da candeia (Eremanthus erythropapus (DC.) Mcleish). Floresta. 2005;35(2):211-9.), Dalbergia nigra (Marques et al., 2006bMarques VB, Paiva HN, Gomes JM, Neves JCL, Bernadino DCS. Efeito de fontes e doses de nitrogênio sobre o crescimento inicial e qualidade de mudas de jacarandá-da-bahia (Dalbergia nigra (Vell.) Fr. All. ex Benth.). Revista Árvore. 2006b;30(5):725-35.), Samanea inopinata (Cruz et al., 2006Cruz CAF, Paiva HN, Guerreiro CRA. Efeito da adubação nitrogenada na produção de mudas de sete-cascas (Samanea inopinata (Harms) Ducke). Revista Árvore. 2006;30(4):537-46.), Piptadenia gonoacantha (Marques et al., 2009Marques LS, Paiva, HN, Neves, JCL, Gomes, JM, Souza, PH. Crescimento de mudas de jacaré (Piptadenia gonoacantha J.F. Macbr.) em diferentes tipos de solos e fontes de nitrogênio. Revista Árvore. 2009;33:81-92.), Swietenia macrophylla (Tucci et al., 2009Tucci CAF, Lima HN, Lessa JF. Adubação nitrogenada na produção de mudas de mogno (Swietenia macrophyla King). Acta Amazonica. 2009;39(2):289-94.), Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia (Gonsalves et al., 2010Gonçalves EO, Paiva, HN, Neves, JCL, Gomes, JM. Crescimento de mudas de sanção-do-campo (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.) sob diferentes doses de macronutrientes. Scientia Forestalis. 2010;38(88):599-609.), Astronium fraxinifolium (Feitosa et al., 2011Feitosa, DG, Maltoni, KL, Cassiolato, AMR, Paiano, MO. Crescimento de mudas de Gonçalo-Alves (Astronium fraxinifolium) sob diferentes fontes e doses de nitrogênio. Revista Árvore. 2011;35(3):401-11.), Calophyllum brasiliense (Ciriello et al., 2014Ciriello V, Guerrini IA, Backes C. Doses de nitrogênio no crescimento inicial e nutrição de plantas de guanandi. Cerne. 2014;20(4):653-60.), Tabebuiaserratifolia (Goulart et al., 2016Goulart LML, Paiva, HN, Leite, HG, Xavier, A, Duarte, LD. Produção de mudas de Ipê- amarelo (Tabebuia serratifolia) em resposta a fertilização nitrogenada. Floresta e Ambiente. 2016. [accessed on: 27 Mar. 2017. Available at: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S217980872016005019108&lng=en&nrm=isso
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), Schizolobium amazonicum (Carvalho et al., 2016Carvalho AO, Bergamin AC, Evaristo AP, Neves AHB, Carmo CCA do, Guimarães Jr, JNS. Initial growth of ‘paricá’ (Schizolobium amazonicum) seedlings under different nitrogen doses. Nativa 2016;4(2):112-5.).

As previously mentioned, in addition to the distinct species requirements, it must be taken into account that the response to nitrogen fertilization varies according to the conditions of the study, as the type of substrate used. Marques et al. (2006b)Marques VB, Paiva HN, Gomes JM, Neves JCL, Bernadino DCS. Efeito de fontes e doses de nitrogênio sobre o crescimento inicial e qualidade de mudas de jacarandá-da-bahia (Dalbergia nigra (Vell.) Fr. All. ex Benth.). Revista Árvore. 2006b;30(5):725-35. evaluated the effect of nitrogen sources and doses on the production of Dalbergia nigra seedlings in three soils (Red-Yellow Argisol, Cambisol and Red-Yellow Latosol) and observed a difference in response to the doses according to the soil used. The Argisol presented the best quality standard of the seedlings having as source the ammonium sulfate and the dose of 180 mg dm-3 of N.

Among the morphological characteristics evaluated in nurseries to indicate seedlings quality, the height and collar diameter stand out because they are easy to obtain. The height influences survival and development in the first years after planting, and the collar diameter correlates with the percentage of survival in the field (Carneiro, 1995Carneiro JGA. Produção e controle de qualidade de mudas florestais. Curitiba: UFPR/ FUPEF/UENF; 1995. 451p.). These parameters were influenced positively by the application of N to soil, being the height of Cassia grandis more responsive to N doses compared to Peltophorum dubium.

Although the determination of dry matter of the plants in many nurseries is not feasible because it is destructive and requires greenhouses (Gomes and Paiva, 2012Gomes JM, Paiva HN. Viveiros florestais: propagação sexuada. Viçosa, MG: Universidade Federal de Viçosa; 2012.), this parameter has been considered one of the best to predict seedlings quality, since it is the characteristic that better reflects the production (Gonçalves et al., 2008Gonçalves EO, Paiva HN, Neves, JCL, Gomes, JM. Crescimento de mudas de angico-vermelho (Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan) sob diferentes doses de macronutrientes. Revista Árvore. 2008;32(6):1029-40.). The importance of using this characteristic is also verified by the high correlation of TDM with the other characteristics evaluated, indicating that other variables which indicate seedlings quality can be inferred through TDM. Cassia grandis and Peltophorum dubium had higher production of TDM at the maximum dose studied, which may be justified by the rapid growth in initial phase of these species and, consequently, a higher nutritional requirement.

Both shoot and root dry matter masses responded positively to the doses of N. Marques et al. (2009)Marques LS, Paiva, HN, Neves, JCL, Gomes, JM, Souza, PH. Crescimento de mudas de jacaré (Piptadenia gonoacantha J.F. Macbr.) em diferentes tipos de solos e fontes de nitrogênio. Revista Árvore. 2009;33:81-92. also observed a linear response of SDM and RDM as a function of N doses in Piptadenia gonoacantha. These authors observed higher production at the dose of 161 mg dm-3 of N. According to Gomes et al. (2002)Gomes JM, Couto, L, Leite, HG, Xavier, A, Garcia, SLR. Parâmetros morfológicos na avaliação da qualidade de mudas de Eucalyptus grandis. Revista Árvore. 2002;26(6):655-64., the root dry matter mass is one of the most important and best characteristics to be inferred regarding the survival and initial growth of seedlings in the field.

Depending on the environment conditions and resources availability, the allocation of assimilates will prioritize different compartments of the plant. Among the factors that affect allocation of assimilates in the plant, Schumacher et al. (2004)Schumacher MV, Ceconi DE, Santana CA. Influência de diferentes doses de fósforo no crescimento de mudas de angico vermelho (Parapiptadenia rigida (Bentham). Brenan). Revista Árvore. 2004;28(1):149-55. mention the nutritional supply, which, when appropriate, usually leads to a greater allocation of mass to the aerial part rather than to the root system. This may justify the increase of the SDM/RDM ratio with the increase of N doses, i.e. with greater nutrient availability, larger shoot production occurs rather than root production.

The morphological characteristics can be considered in isolation, however, it is recommended that their values be related, so errors in the selection of seedlings are avoided, such as the choice for seedlings of higher heights, due to the blanching, but with lower quality, presenting smaller diameters and lower dry matter mass (Fonseca et al., 2002Fonseca, PV, Valeri, SV, Miglioranza, E. Padrão de qualidade de mudas de Trema micrantha (L.) Blume, produzidas sob diferentes períodos de sombreamento. Revista Árvore. 2002;26(4):515-23.). According to these authors, the Dickson Quality Index (DQI) is one of the best indicators of seedling quality, since robustness and balance of mass distribution in seedlings are taken into account for its determination, considering the results of several important characteristics used for quality assessment. The higher the value of the DQI, the better will be the quality standard of the seedlings (Gomes and Paiva, 2012Gomes JM, Paiva HN. Viveiros florestais: propagação sexuada. Viçosa, MG: Universidade Federal de Viçosa; 2012.). A similar response to this study, where DQI responded positively to N doses, was found for Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia (Marques et al., 2006aMarques VB, Paiva HN, Gomes JM, Neves JCL. Efeitos de fontes e doses de nitrogênio no crescimento de mudas de sábia (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.). Scientia Forestalis. 2006a;(71):77-85.) and Piptadenia gonoacantha seedlings (Marques et al., 2009Marques LS, Paiva, HN, Neves, JCL, Gomes, JM, Souza, PH. Crescimento de mudas de jacaré (Piptadenia gonoacantha J.F. Macbr.) em diferentes tipos de solos e fontes de nitrogênio. Revista Árvore. 2009;33:81-92.).

In general, it was observed that, for the same study conditions, Cassia grandis has a higher nitrogen nutritional demand compared to Peltophorum dubium.

5. CONCLUSIONS

Nitrogen fertilization positively influences the growth and quality of Cassia grandis seedlings and there is no difference between the tested N sources for the conditions studied. It was not possible to find the optimum dose for Cassia grandis seedlings production.

Nitrogen fertilization results in significant gains in growth and quality of Peltophorum dubium seedlings and there is no difference between the tested N sources for the conditions studied. It is recommended, for the soil used (Red-Yellow Latosol), the dose of 185 mg dm-3 of N for the production of seedlings of this species, since this dose provided higher production of TDM.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    2017

History

  • Received
    03 Feb 2015
  • Accepted
    24 Mar 2017
Sociedade de Investigações Florestais Universidade Federal de Viçosa, CEP: 36570-900 - Viçosa - Minas Gerais - Brazil, Tel: (55 31) 3612-3959 - Viçosa - MG - Brazil
E-mail: rarvore@sif.org.br