Sideroxylon obtusifolium (roem. & schult) t.d. penn. seedling production in different substrates

The species Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem. & Schult.) T.D. Penn., belongs to the Sapotaceae family, is native to the Caatinga, and currently some of its populations are going through an increasingly scarcity. Studies focused in the obtaining of seedlings of forest species using industrial residues as components of substrates have been the subject of some research, however, there is lack of information for many species, including for Sideroxylon obtusifolium. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of Sideroxylon obtusifolium seedlings in different substrate composition. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design in a protected environment located at the Departamento de Fitotecnia e Ciências Ambientais of Centro de Ciências Agrárias of Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia–PB. The substrates evaluated were formulated from the mixture of washed sand (75-100%), subsoil (75-100%), kaolin waste (50-100%) and Basaplant® commercial substrate, totaling 13 treatments. The plants were measured 195 days after transplanted for the following variables: plant height, stem diameter, height/stem diameter ratio, number of branches, root length, shoot and root dry matter, total dry matter, dry matter ratio of shoot/roots and Dickson quality index. The kaolin waste and bovine manure can be used in the composition of the substrates for the production of Sideroxylon obtusifolium seedlings, the substrate formulated with subsoil soil (55%) + washed sand (20%) + kaolin waste %) + EB (5%) is recommended for the production of seedlings of this species. Among the substrates evaluated, that composed of 100% subsoil soil (S1) and subsoil soil associated only with washed sand (S3) are not adequate because they do not promoted the obtaining of vigorous seedlings.