Production of annatto seedlings on substrates based on decomposed babassu stem

Annatto (Bixa orellana L.) is an important species for several sectors, industrial, food, landscape, among others, which uses parts of the plant or the entire plant. It is an underresearched species, although it has significant economic value for small-scale farmers. The substrate is one of the sources that directly influence the production of a perennial species that need to present good characteristics to ensure a quality seedling. Therefore, the aim was to evaluate the babassu stem decomposed in the formulation of substrates for the production of annatto seedlings. The study was carried out a shading screen with 75% permeability to light. The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design, with four replications. The treatments consisted of substrates based on babassu stem decomposed (BSD), in the following proportions: S0: 100% soil; S20: 20% BDS + 80% soil; S40: 40% BDS + 60% soil; S60: 60% BDS + 40% soil; S80: 80% BDS + 20% soil; S100: 100% BDS. At 90 days after sowing (DAS), an evaluation of seedling growth variables was performed. A difference was found between the procedures for all the variables analyzed. There was a difference between treatments for all variables analyzed. The substrate constituted of 60% babassu stem decomposed is the most appropriate for the production of taller annatto seedlings