Evaluation of biometric parameters in the selection of substrates for buriti seedlings (Mauritia flexuosa L. f.)

The buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.) is a tree species native of the Cerrado with food and medicinal importance in several places as well as for the population of western Bahia. In the west of Bahia, buriti oil is sold in open markets and the fruits are important in the region's culinary and medicinal uses and for that reason it is important to select substrates that guarantee the development of healthy seedlings, aiming at a high survival rate in the field. The objective of this work was to identify suitable substrates for the development of buriti seedlings. The experimental design was a randomized block with ten treatments and four replications. The substrates used were sand, wood shavings, sugarcane bagasse, soil, cattle manure and footpath soil. The conclusion was that the footpath soil was the one (100%) that provided the best development of the buriti seedlings, which is the most recommended for a quick nursery production. However, given the difficulty of obtaining this material, sand (80%) + soil (20%) can be used to replace footpath soil with similar results.