Performance of tamboril Seedlings Produced in Three Different Tube Volumes

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of tamboril (Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong) seedlings and define their time in the nursery. Two experiments were carried out; in the first, the seedlings remained in the nursery for 120 days, and height, diameter, root deformation %, shoot dry mass, root system and leaf number were evaluated. In the second experiment, four seedlings of each repetition were transplanted into 35 x 40 cm bags and then assessed for height, diameter and dry weight of the shoot and root system. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (α = 0.05), Tukey test at 5% (qualitative factor) and sequential regression (quantitative factors). The seedlings produced in higher-tube volumes achieved conditions for planting at 90 days, while those produced in the lowest volume achieved the same conditions only after 120 days. Therefore, 180 cm3 tubes and a 90-day stay in the nursery are recommended.