Recuperação de mudas de cafeeiro em tubetes através de podas

Abstract

Coffee seedlings must be lost when left in nursery after planting time, although research works have showed that they may be used when they are grown in polyethylene bags. The objective of this work was to compare polyethylene bags and tubets as recipients for coffee seedlings to remain in nursery for late planting after pruning. The experiment was established at Coffee Sector of UFLA (Lavras Federal University) from August 2003 to December 2004. Coffee “Rubi” cultivar was used when seedlings were at 7 to 9 leaves stage, characterizing old seedlings. The experiment was a randornized block design in a factorial scheme of 2x3+1, being two seedling diameters (below and above 4mm), three pruning time (April, July, and September) including two additional treatments: new seedlings in April and July Each plot was constituted of 13 seedlings and the five central ones were used for evaluations. Plantmax (35%) mixed with carbonized rice husk (65%) was used as substrates to fill bags and tubets. Sprouts number, size and diameter; nods number, leaf area, and above ground and roots dry weights were evaluated during the time course of the experiment. It was concluded that old seedlings remained in nurseries when grown in tubets may be used for late planting when pruned accordingly, and show better development than traditional half-year seedlings, standing out those with small diameters pruned in April.