Desenvolvimento inicial de mudas de Butia odorata (Barb. Rodr.) Noblick cultivadas em recipientes1/Initial development of Butia odorata (Barb. Rodr.) Noblick seedlings grown in containers

Butia odorata Noblick is a palm tree native from southern Brazil, with a great demand for ornamental and agro industry use. The objective of this study was to test the initial development of pindo palm seedlings in different substrate compositions inside containers. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse without temperature or humidity control. It was used seedlings at 60th day after germination, and substrates were tested in five proportions of carbonized rice husks and pine bark. After that, the effect of pH of the substrates was monitored on the growth of plants maintained in the same containers and treatments. Ninety days after the beginning of the first stage and 161 days after the beginning of the second, the plants growth and the electrical conductivity and pH of the substrates were measured. Difference among treatments was found in the first state only for plant height and pH of the substrate, both directly related to the proportion of pine bark.