Recipients and substrates in the production of seedlings and initial development of coffee trees after planting

With the objective of evaluating the effects of different recipients and substrates in the production of coffee tree seedlings (Coffea arabica L.), an experiment was conducted in the Coffee Sector of the Department of Agriculture of Universidade Federal de Lavras -UFLA, during the period from September of 2003 to January of 2004. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement of 3 x 3. The recipients were of rigid polyethylene tubettes/50 mL capacity; tubettes/120 mL capacity; and 10x20cm polyethylene bags, with approximate capacity of 700 mL. The substrates used were alternative substrate, composed of 65% charred rice hulls + 35% commercial substrate; Plantmax (R) vegetables HT commercial substrate; and standard substrate, composed of 70% earth + 30% bovine manure. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the recipients and the substrate, being used, can significantly influence the development of coffee tree seedlings; and the recipients of larger volume (polyethylene bags and 120 mL tubettes) filled with the alternative and commercial substrates provide seedlings of a more superior quality.