Rock powder as a tool in the production of arugula seedlings in substrates

Résumé

The interaction between rock powder and substrates in arugula and the amount to be used of this remineralizer are not elucidated. Thus, the objective of the study was to investigate whether substrates associated with rock powder interfere with the phytometric morphology of seedlings and to understand the effect of remineralizer proportions, added to commercial substrate, on the development of arugula seedlings. We performed two experiments. In experiment I, the treatments were three substrates in the absence and presence of rock powder (30% of the container volume), designed in randomized blocks, with three replications. In experiment II, the treatments were six rock powder proportions (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of the container volume), designed in randomized blocks, with three replications. In experiment I, the seedlings produced in the substrate Horta 2^® had better phytometric quality. In experiment II, shoot fresh mass and seedling root volume increased until the addition of 15% rock powder to the Horta 2^® substrate and decreased with proportions of 20% and 25%. It is concluded that substrates with greater water retention enhance the quality of seedlings. Increasing the proportion of this remineralizer up to 15% of the container volume improves aerial biomass and root volume of arugula seedlings.