Produção de mudas de batata doce de baixo custo em diferentes substratos e níveis de enfolhamento de estacas

Abstract

Sweet potato is an important source of energy and can be used as an alternative source of carbohydrates, replacing grains and tubers. The crude cropping, through the use of spread directly branches to the field, it is usual and it may, however, be responsible for a lowest fixation of shoots. In this regard, the objective was to determine the best technique to obtain seedlings in greenhouses by using different substrates and leafiness levels of sweet potato cuttings. The completely randomized design in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, four substrates (water, nutrient solution, saturated peat substrate with water and saturated peat substrate with nutrient solution) and two types of cuttings leafiness (whole leaf and half leaf), with four repetitions was used. The length and the number of roots in sprouts of each treatment were evaluated. Posteriorly, the percentage of emerged shoots, leaf number, height and diameter of the shoots, dry mass of shoots and roots of the shoots emerged were evaluated. It can be concluded that cutting done directly on peaty substrate with nutritive solution using cuttings with whole leaves is a low-cost alternative and results in high quality sweet potato seedlings.