Composto pé de boi: alternativa na produção de mudas de aroeira

Abstract

The production of seedlings of native forest species is a fundamental step in ecological restoration programs and is directly influenced by the physiological quality of the seeds and the growing conditions. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate seed germination and the initial development of seedlings of aroeira (Astronium urundeuva (M. Allemão) Engl.), a native species of high ecological and economic importance. In the first chapter, the effects of different temperatures and substrates on seed germination were evaluated using variables such as germination percentage, germination rate index, seedling length, and dry weight. The results showed that the species’ germination response varies depending on the conditions under which the germination test was conducted. In the second chapter, the potential of the organic compost “pé de boi” as a substrate component for seedling production was evaluated at different proportions mixed with soil and commercial substrate. The emergence rate index, height, collar diameter, number of leaves, dry mass, and Dickson quality index were analyzed. The results demonstrated that substrate composition significantly influences seedling development; moderate proportions of “pé de boi” compost yielded satisfactory performance, while high concentrations limited initial growth. Overall, the results obtained contribute to the improvement of aroeira propagation techniques, providing relevant information for germination tests, seedling production, and ecological restoration programs.