Effect of substrate mixtures, liming and fertilizers on the initial growth of Geonoma schottiana Mart.

Abstract

Geonoma schottiana Mart. This work was conducted to evaluate the influence of substrate mixtures on the initial growth of Geonoma schottiana Mart. The species is threatened with extinction. Five month-old saplings, 5 cm in height and with 2 leaves, were transplanted into 3-litre black plastic bags, containing the following mbctures: 1) organic soil (tv) + cow dung (eb), 1:1; 2) tv + eb (1:1) + 25g dolomitic limestone (cd); 3) tv + eb (1:1) + cd + 25g NPK (10-10-10). The experiments were carried out under 50% shade in a lath house. The statistical model was entirely randomized, with 3 treatments, 5 replications, and 7 plants per plot. Results were evaluated after 12 and 24 months, on the basis of: height of aerial parts of plant, diameter, and number of leaves per plant. The best results were obtained in 1 (tv+eb) mixture.