The Effect of Different Substrates on the Growth of Enterolobium contortisiliquum

Brazilian origin species Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Fabaceae) is distributed from north to south of the country. The species is a pioneer and important in the manufacture of furniture, boats and canoes, and presents easy handling also being significant for degraded areas recovery programs. As a result, management plans are necessary for the survival of this species. In the context of reforestation and recovery of degraded areas, the production of seedlings of native forest species occurs in nurseries and the quality of these plants depends on several factors, among which, the composition of the substrates is a factor of great importance for having its physical, chemical and biological characteristics directly linked to the growth of the seedlings. The study was based on obtaining knowledge and potential applicability in seedling production, subjecting it to different substrates, in order to evaluate their growth in height, diameter, number of leaves and biomass. The behavior presented by the species suggests its potential for reforestation turned to production and conservationism, since it revealed tolerance to the various types of substrates and better results with the use of organic matter added to the substrate.