Effect of the Incorporation of Hydrogel on the Growth of Dendrocalamus asper and Bambusa vulgaris var. Vittata Seedlings

Hydrogel has important functions, being a soil and substrate conditioner, improving the ability to retain water and nutrients, making them available and improving the development of bamboo seedlings in nursery. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of different doses of hydrogel on the development and quality of seedlings of Dendrocalamus asper and Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. var. vittata. Additionally, it was to investigate on the three types of propagules (Lateral regrowth + disc, Lateral regrowth and Disc). Four doses of hydrogel (1, 2, 3 and 4g) were used and one fifth treatment control (0g). The recorded traits were numbers of shoots and roots and their variations in relation to size and weight. Every 60 days the height of the shoot (cm) and the number of shoots were measured. At 180 days, shoot dry weight and root dry weight were performed. For all variables, the disc propagule was the one that provided the greatest growth and establishment of the seedlings, which was indicated for the production of seedlings by cutting. For the hydrogel, the dose 4g/liter was the one that proposed more vigorous seedlings, showing that the incorporation in this amount is ideal, with values of 117.1 and 113.1 for the aerial part for Dendrocalamus asper and Bambusa vulgaris respectively. Regarding the number of roots the highest values were 49 for Dendrocalamus asper and 64.3 for Bambusa vulgaris.