Influence of organic substrates on growth and nutrient contents of jatob (Hymenaea stigonocarpa)

The use of native forests for the purpose of agricultural and livestock occupation have caused the degradation of native ecosystems of caatinga and cerrado. The negative impact of these activities can be minimized with the revegetation of degraded areas. With that comes the need to produce seedlings of native forest species of quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the addition of bagana of carnauba, compost, and cattle manure to Quartzarenic Neosol soil affects the percentage and rate of emergence, growth, and macronutrient contents of Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart (Jatoba) seedlings. The treatments consisted of the following proportions (v/v) of bagana of carnauba, compost, and cattle manure to the soil: 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20, and 100:0, being in a factorial (3:6), with 10 replications, and standard chemical fertilizers were used as the control. The addition of bagana of carnauba increased height, ratio of height to diameter, aerial part dry weight, root dry weight, total dry weight, ratio of aerial part height to aerial part dry weight, and Dickson quality index of H. stigonocarpa seedlings, in the estimated proportion of 48:52 (bagana of carnauba: soil), which is the most suitable substrate composition for the cultivation of this species. The substrate containing compost enabled a greater accumulation of N, P, and Ca in the shoots of the jatoba seedlings, due to increased availability of these nutrients in the substrate containing organic compost.   Key words: Bagana of carnauba, compost organic, cattle manure, macronutrients.