SUBSTRATES AND VOLUMES OF CONTAINERS FOR OLIVE NURSERY TREES

The substrate type and the volume of containers are aspects that should be searched to ensure the production of fruit nursery trees of good quality. Thus, the present work was carried out in the Experimental Farm of the EPAMIG in Maria da Fé, MG, Brazil, aiming to evaluate the influence of the substrate and volume of containers in the production of olive nursery trees. The experiment was set in a 2×3×3 factorial scheme, in completely randomized design with four replications, the factors were: 2 cultivars (‘Arbequina’ and ‘Grapollo 541’), 3 volumes for containers (plastic bag of 1, 2 and 3 L) and 3 substrates (subsoil land and Pró-vaso^® 1:1; subsoil land, Pró-vaso^® and carbonized rind of rice 1:1:1 and subsoil land, Pró-vaso^® and coconut fiber 1:1:1/2). The experiment was established in October 2006. Forty days later the total number of shoots and average length (cm) were evaluated and after five months the average nursery tree height (cm), roots number and roots length (cm) were also recorded. It is recommended to use the substrate composed of subsoil land and Pró-vaso^® 1:1 in production of ‘Arbequina’ and ‘Grappolo 541’ nursery trees. The volume of the containers used for this phase should be 2 or 3 L.