Seedling emergence and survival of three Fabaceae species in response to different substrates and containers

In forest nurseries, germination and seedling growth are influenced by the choice of planting materials, which must be suited to the plant’s developmental stages. Substrate composition and container type influence structural support, nutrients, and water availability. This study investigated the effect of different substrate mixtures and container types on the emergence and survival of Neltuma laevigata, Havardia pallens and Ebenopsis ebano. The substrates were composed of peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and soil in different proportions. The containers tested were polyethylene bags (400 ml), polypropylene containers (170 ml), and polystyrene containers (163 ml). Emergence percentage, survival rate, time to 75% seedling emergence, and the emergence speed index were evaluated. While the emergence speed index remained consistent across treatments for all species, emergence and survival were significantly reduced in the soil-only substrate. On the other hand, polyethylene bags showed favorable effects when paired with a suitable substrate. These findings suggest that seedling production for each species should be tailored to specific substrate-container combinations to optimize emergence and survival.