Poultry Litter for the Production and Quality of Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. Seedlings

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to determine the efficiency of poultry litter ratios added to the commercial substrate and to peat in the growth and quality of Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings. The design was completely randomized, with 10 replications, in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement with two substrates (peat and commercial substrate) and five poultry litter ratios, added (v:v) to both substrates (0, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). The height, stem diameter, dry matter of shoot and roots, root specific surface area, Dickson quality index and NPK accumulated in dry matter of shoot and roots were evaluated. Poultry litter can be added up to a 35% ratio to the commercial substrate or to peat for the production of Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings; proportions above this, for both substrates, compromise the production. The treatments with peat provided lower growth and quality of Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings, compared to the commercial substrate.