Substrates for castor seedlings production composed by blends of five organic materials

Planting castor (Ricinus communis L.) by seedlings can be an alternative for a better use of the short rainy season at brazilian semi-arid region, however there has been a lack of information necessary for this technique adoption. Physics characteristics, mainly aeration, are very important in a substrate for castor seedlings production. A trial was run in a randomized block design with 12 treatments and 4 replications in order to evaluate substrates for castor seedlings production. Treatments were blends of sand, bovine manure, peanut hulls, agave mucilage, sugarcane bagasse and poultry litter. Castor seeds cv. BRS 149 Nordestina were planted in plastic bags measuring 17 x 28cm fulfilled with the substrates to be evaluated. Data on height, leaf area and stem diameter were weekly registered between 15 and 43 days after emergence. At the end of the trial shoot and root dry weight were measured. The substrate composed by sand+ peanut hulls + poultry litter + agave mucilage propitiated the best seedlings growth. Poultry litter contributed to chemical enrichment while peanut hulls and agave mucilage gave good aeration and water retention to the substrate.