Effect of Hydrogel and Urea on the Seedling Production of Handroanthus ochraceus (Cham.) Mattos

This study evaluated the production of seedlings of Handroanthus ochraceus (Cham.) Mattos submitted to different doses of hydrogel and nitrogen fertilization in greenhouse. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a factorial with five concentrations of hydrogel (0 to 4 g) and six fertilization treatments (0 to 5 g), totaling 30 treatments and five replicates composed of four seedlings. We evaluated height; stem diameter; number of leaves; dry mass of shoot and root; total dry mass; ratios between height/diameter, height/shoot dry mass, and shoot/root; Dickson quality index; and increase in height and diameter in three steps. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (p < 0.05) and regression. The different treatments have generated different responses and, in general, positively influenced the growth and quality of seedlings. The initial 80 days under shade provided greater growth in height and diameter of seedlings.