Quality of Carica papaya seedlings grown in an alternative substrate based on buriti wood (Mauritia flexuosa Lf)

The use of alternative organic substrates with physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics that promote the nutrition and sustenance of plants at the initial stages of development is essential to obtain satisfactory results in the production of crops. The objective of this work is to evaluate the phytotechnical characteristics of seedlings of Formosa papaya grown in a substrate based on buriti wood. The experiment was installed in a nursery located at the State University of Piaui (UESPI), campus of Corrente. The experimental design was completely rando­mized consisting of ten treatments and six replicates. The treatments were different percentages of buriti wood: S1-soil; S2 - soil:buriti wood, 90/10%; S3 - soil:buriti wood, 80/20%; S4 - soil:buriti wood, 70/30%; S5 - soil:buriti wood, 60/40%; S6 - soil:buriti wood, 50/50%; S7 - soil:buriti wood, 40/60%; S8 - soil:buriti wood, 30/70%; S9 - soil:buriti wood, 20/80%; S10 - soil:buriti wood, 10/90%. The variables were height, stem diameter, root length, number of leaves, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass, stem height/diameter ratio, shoot/root dry mass ratio, and Dickson quality index. There was significance for height, stem diameter, root length, shoot dry mass, and total dry mass. Proportions of organic residues in the substrate composition contributed to a better develop­ment of Carica papaya seedlings. Thus, the use of 40% PaB mixed in the soil is recommended for the production of papaya seedlings.