Initial Growth of Açaí Seedlings in Function of Basalt Powder Doses

Seedlings production of native fruits is important for its sustainable commercial exploitation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of aça? seedlings as affected by application of powdered basalt to the substrate. The treatments consisted of five doses of basalt powder (0.42, 1.04, 2.08, 4.17 and 8.33 g kg-1), two particle sizes, plus a control with five replications. The substrate was composed of 20% vermicompost and 80% soil, dystrophic Yellow Latosol (Xanthic Hapludox). The substrate was incubated for 90 days. At six months, height, stem diameter, number of branches, and dry biomass of shoots and roots, and the concentration of leaf nutrients were measured. The basalt powder presented potential to be used as fertilizer in the production of aça? seedlings. Increased of powder in soil promoted the increase of macro and micronutrients in the shoots of seedlings, which explains the better development of the seedlings. The dose between 6.0 and 6.3 g dm-3 of basalt powder, 0.05 mm particle size is recommended.