Hydrogel influences in Eremanthus erythropappus establishment in different hydric handlings

Abstract

The efficiency of water use is one of the limiting factors in forest production, since it influences the physiological processes that determine plant growth and development. To store and guarantee the water supply, hydrogels have been used in the production of forest species seedlings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate water management and the use of hydrogels in the initial growth of Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish seedlings in pots. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement, being tested the use of hydrogel (no hydrogel (SG) and three types: G1, G2 and G3) and the form of irrigation (no irrigation, pure water irrigation and irrigation with gel solution), in five replications, containing one plant per plot. Evaluations were carried out at 15, 25, 40 and 55 days of the height and diameter of the seedlings, in addition to calculating the daily evapotranspiration and determining, at the end of the experiment, the permanent wilt point (PMP), the dry matter of the aerial part and root. The seedlings under the use of gels G3 and G1 showed higher average height, whereas seedlings irrigated with aqueous solution showed lower results in height and diameter, and its use with planting hydrogel is not recommended. G1 showed satisfactory results, and with G3 they endured a longer period in water deficit stress, reaching the PMP four days after the seedlings with G2 or without the product, and can serve as a differential in the field.