Hydrogel and irrigation frequencies in survival, growth and gas exchanges in Eucalyptus urograndis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the hydrogel on the planting of clonal Eucalyptus urograndis seedlings in pots, related to different water management, to provide information about the hydrogel use efficiency. The experiment was carried out in a forest nursery in a factorial scheme, as factor "A" referred to the absence and presence of hydrogel and factor "B" to water management (0 - irrigation only at planting, 1 - daily, 4 - every 4 days, and 8 - every 8 days). Evaluations of the water stress symptomatology, morphological characteristics, chlorophyll content, soil water content, gas exchange, increase in diameter and height, and dry biomass were performed. The hydrogel provided an increase in water content in the soil and a delay in the symptoms of water stress, increasing the survival rate. Water stress was a limiting factor for stomatal opening, contributing to the decrease in carbon assimilation by photosynthesis.