CHICKEN MANURE AND LUMINOUS AVAILABILITY INFLUENCE GAS EXCHANGE AND PHOTOCHEMICAL PROCESSES IN Alibertia edulis (Rich.) A. Rich SEEDLINGS

ABSTRACT Information on the physiological responses of native plants from the Brazilian Cerrado regarding the use of chicken manure and luminosities are important for their silvicultural management. Thus, aimed to evaluate the effect of chicken manure and luminous availability on the photosynthetic metabolism of Alibertia edulis (Rich) A. Rich. The experiment was carried out in pots, testing five doses of chicken manure – CM (0.00, 2.08, 4.16, 6.24 and 8.32 g kg-1) incorporated at Dystroferric Red Latosol, and two luminous environmental (full sun and 50% shaded). The higher CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and carboxylation efficiency of Rubisco occurred in seedlings grown in full sun. The seedlings showed higher photochemical indicators in photosystem II in the shaded and with addition of 8.32 g kg-1 of CM. The intercellular CO2 concentration in leaves was lower with addition of 5.55 g kg-1 of CM. The leaves presented larger stomatal dimensions under shaded. The cultivation of A. edulis in full sun and the addition of about 4.16 g kg-1 of CM favored greater stomatal regulation and CO2 assimilation.