Growth and development of five forest species propagated vegetatively in nursery in two planting systems

Abstract

Vegetative propagation is the oldest, most inexpensive, and easiest system to implement, requiring no special skills or much space. In addition, it has the advantage of achieving genetic gain in short periods of time. It also allows for the transfer of the full genetic potential of the mother plant to its offspring, producing quality rooted cuttings that respond well and quickly to transplanting. The objective of the study was to evaluate the growth and development of five vegetative tree species in two planting systems in the nursery. The research was quantitative, experimental, exploratory, and longitudinal, using a randomized complete block (bifactorial) design. Analysis of variance, multiple range tests, and a linear additive model were performed. The treatments (blackwood and leucaena in polyethylene bags) were the best, with 94.4% and 88.8% survival rates, with "excellence" and height growth of 28.8 and 28.25 cm, both with statistical categories of "a." The bare-root blackwood and polyethylene bag treatments yielded the largest diameters, with 9.3 and 8.5 cm, with statistical categories of "a." The best treatment was blackwood in polyethylene bags, with 10.2 shoots per cutting, with "excellence" and a statistical category of "a." The best treatments were blackwood, nancitón, leucaena, and mahogany in polyethylene bags, with shoot growth of 26.4, 25.60, 25.60, and 25.60 cm, with categories of "acceptable" and a statistical category of "a." Results demonstrated significant differences in the treatments under study.