CULTIVATION OF Caesalpiniapulcherrima L. Sw. IN REGIONAL SUBSTRATES

ABSTRACT The objective of the present research was to evaluate different types and proportions of organic wates and soil classes for substrate formulation for Caesalpinia pulcherrima cultivation. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse, and treatments were composed by two soil classes (Oxisol and Entisols), three types of residues (organic compound from pruning + manure, urban waste compost and residue from the extraction of Agave sisalana fibers) and five residue:soil proportions (0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20, v/v). Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, rates of a, b and total chlorophyll, leaf area, root length, shoots and roots dry weight and the Dickson Quality Index were evaluated 90 days after sowing. All three types of residues evaluated showed potential to be used in the elaboration of growth substrates for the production of C. pulcherrima L. Sw. seedlings. The substrates formulated with 33%, 23% or 5% of organic tree pruning + animal manure, urban waste compost and residue of the Agave sisalana fiber extraction, respectively, promoted better quality of seedlings 90 days after sowing, regardless of the soil class.