Vermicompost and Sewage Sludge-Based Substrates as Alternative for the Forest Seedlings Production

Abstract

The partial or total use of organic compounds for forest seedling production has been considered a reliable alternative to commercial substrate. The objective of this study was to investigate the red-angico (Anadenanthera macrocarpa) and pink kapok (Chorisia speciosa) seedlings development performance cultivated with different proportion of commercial substrate mixed with vermicompost or sewage sludge. Seedlings were produced under greenhouse conditions and different commercial substrate mixed proportions with vermicompost and sewage sludge at 0 (only commercial substrate), 25, 50, 75, and 100% (only organic compound) were evaluated. An increment of plant height and steam diameter for red-angico and pink kapok were observed when both vermicompost or sewage sludge were added to the substrate. Best seedlings development results were found when organic compound represented from 50-75% of the substrate. The use of vermicompost and sewage sludge have showed a good alternative to the commercial substrate.