Evaluation of purslane development in different pot sizes

Abstract Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) has potential for ornamental use, in addition to its nutritional, medicinal, phytoremediing and pharmacological properties. To explore the possibilities of using this plant, knowing more efficient cultivation practices are necessary for producers and researchers to obtain quality seedlings. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the growth of P. oleracea in three different pot sizes and substrate volumes. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, using small pots (250 g substrate - V1), medium pots (450 g substrate - V2) and large pots containing (850 g substrate - V3) in a completely randomized design in split plots. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and clustering of means using the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.01). There was a significant interaction for all the variables evaluated, denoting that different pot sizes and substrate volume imply distinct vegetative growth over the weeks of evaluation. Thinking about medicinal and ornamental use and food consumption, the variable of greatest interest is the number of leaves, which showed the same growth in V2 and V3 up to the seventh week of evaluation, both higher than the V1 treatment. Thus, the use of medium pots represents lower expenditure on inputs and the possibility of grouping more pots per m² in a greenhouse, their use in production being converted into economy and sustainability.