Effect of different container volumes and concentration of the controlled release fertilizer in the production of Eugenia involucrata DC. seedlings

Eugenia involucrata DC. (Myrtaceae) stands out by its ecological potential, and it is indicated in planting in degraded areas and permanent preserved areas. Because of its importance, the work aimed to evaluate the effect of different container volumes and concentrations of controlled release fertilizer (CRF) in the seedlings emergence and the seedlings growth of E. involucrata in nursery. The experiment was conducted in Laboratory of Silviculture and Forest Nursery, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. The fruits of E. involucrata were collected from eight trees in a fragment of Subtropical Seasonal Forest. For installation of the experiment, substrate which constituted of a mixture of 80% of commercial substrate mixed to 20% of carbonized rice husk was used. In this study, two container volumes (tubes with 110 and 180 cm 3 of capacity) and five doses of CRF (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 g L -1 ), were evaluated with four repetitions, using completely randomized design. The emergence variables, the emergence speed index and average time of emergence were analyzed, besides the height, stem diameter and relation height/diameter of the stem. The seedlings emergence had the beginning at 77 days after sowing, and it was established at 126 days. For production of seedlings indicated the use of container of 180 cm 3 , allied to the dose of 12 g L -1 of CRF. Nevertheless, considering the long time necessary to the emergence and the slow species growth, the topdressing will be necessary since this fertilizer presents determined time of efficiency.