Efeito de diferentes substratos e adubação fosfatada no crescimento de mudas de Rhapis excelsa (Thunb.) A. Henry ex Rehder (Palmeira-ráfia)

Abstract

Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa (Thunb.) A. Henry ex Rehder) is an ornamental palm widely cultivated worldwide, specially indicated for shaded areas and as vases plant. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of substrates on lady palm seedlings growth. One year-old seedlings (240) produced by seeds were transplanted to polyethylene bags containing 2.5 liters of substrate. Thirty treatments, involving four substrates composed with soil, manure, sand and carbonized rice husk in all combinations and same proportions and/or 10 grams L-1 of superphosphate were used. The experimental design was randomized with four replicates with two plants per replicate. The analyzed parameters were seedlings height, number of leaves, stem diameter and number of shoots. The substrate composed only with manure showed a better performance for all parameters evaluated. Seedlings cultivated in substrates composed with 1 soil + 1 manure + 1 sand, 1 soil + 1 manure + 1 carbonized rice husk and 1 soil + 1 manure + 1 sand + 1 carbonized rice husk presented an equivalent quality as those cultivated in manure only. Fertilization with simple superphosphate did not promote lady palm seedlings growth.