Viabilidade da produção de mudas de cafeeiro (coffea arabica l.) em sistema hidropônico modificado

Abstract

The production of coffee seedlings by the traditional method in nurseries allows the seedlings to be ready for transplanting in the field, only in December / January when the first months of rains of the agricultural year have passed. This happens because there is a need for at least 6 months for the production process in the traditional nursery system, from sowing to the stage of 3 pairs of true leaves. Anticipation of sowing is only possible with the use of seeds stored in cold rooms, because if they are not sown soon after harvest, they will rapidly lose germination and vigor. It is also important to consider that the consumption of water in the irrigation of the traditional nursery is great, reaching more than 11.000,00 liters of water per 1,000 seedlings produced. In view of the above, the objective was to adapt the modified hydroponic system for the production of coffee seedlings, aiming to reduce production time and water saving in relation to the traditional production process in nurseries. In the first experiment the production of coffee seedlings in the modified hydroponic system was evaluated using 120 ml tubes filled with vermiculite and the mixture of vermiculite (30%) plus carbonized rice husk (70%) " , submitted to three managements for the supply of nutrients and water, being: a) continuous supply of the nutrient solution from the sowing; b) supply of water only, until the moment when the seedlings presented in stadium match phosphorus and then supply of nutritive solution; c) supply only of water and substrates fertilized with Osmocote®. In the second experiment the seedlings produced in traditional nurseries with seedlings produced in a modified hydroponic system were compared. The seedlings produced in a conventional system in 120 ml tubes filled with vermiculite were fertilized with Osmocote ® and the irrigation water supply and the hydroponic plants were maintained with a nutrient solution from the sowing. It was concluded that the management with only "Nutritive solution" from the beginning of the production process, with substrate composed of "vermiculite", in modified hydroponic system, is the most suitable for the germination and emergence phase of the seedlings and also for the growth of coffee seedlings (Coffea arabica L.). It was also possible to conclude that the seedlings produced in a modified hydroponic system have a higher development than those produced in conventional nurseries, allowing a reduction of 78 days in the production time of the seedlings, favoring early transplanting, taking better advantage of the rainy season of the year and, consequently, and better establishment of the crop. It was also possible to verify that the production of coffee tree seedlings in a modified hydroponic system promotes an economy of 84.52% of water when compared to traditional nursery production.