Resumen de Effect of the diameter of cuttings in the establishment of gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium)
Bruno Campbell de Azevedo, Patricia Moraes da Matta, Paulo Francisco Dias, Sebastiao Manhaes Souto
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diameter of Gliricidia sepium cuttings (6, 8 and 10 cm) on the number, diameter, and length of sprouts, 2 mo after planting in plants grown in nursery condition. These same attributes and plant survival rate were used in the evaluation conducted 4 mo after planting both in nursery and in the field. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with ten replicates. Results of the initial evaluation in the nursery showed that the cuttings of the largest diameter (10 cm) gave sprouts with the largest diameter and length in their upper 30 cm portion. At 4 mo, under field conditions the largest total number of sprouts was obtained with cuttings of 10 and 8 cm planted directly in the soil. A positive correlation (r = 0.99; P< 0.0001) was found between the number of sprouts located in the top 30 cm and plant survival rate (%) in the field. Independent of planting conditions, the survival rate of plants in the field was not affected by diameter of the cuttings and averaged 90%. In conclusion, gliricidia cuttings can be used for vegetative propagation by planting directly in the field without the nursery stage provided that the minimum cuttings diameter of 8 cm is observed.
