Response of Cratylia argentea (Desvaux) O. Kuntze to coating seeds with triple superphosphate

Abstract

C. argentea is a neotropical leguminous shrub with high phenotypic plasticity in response to abiotic factors; it is present in Brazil in the Amazon, Cerrado, and Caatinga biomes. It has potential for use as animal feed and green manure and stands out for its ability to grow in low fertility and tropical acidic soils and can be sown directly in the soil. However, in spite of these advantageous features, the species has slow initial development. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the response of the species to coating seeds with triple superphosphate and the contribution of this technique to the initial stage of development. First, the physiological quality of seedswas evaluatedin response to coating seeds with different amounts of triple superphosphate. In a second step, we carried out evaluation of initial development of the species in a Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo (Oxisol) under high and low phosphorus fertility conditions after coating seeds with triple superphosphate. This technique did not confer benefits to initial development of C. argentea and led to decreased seed germination and vigor