Loading...
1 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
- Effect of different substrates on the growth rate and water efficiency of Quercus suberPublication . Gusmão, Andressa Griebler; Toloto, Matheus de Oliveira; Segatelli, Ana; Fonseca, Felícia; Cortez, José Paulo; Figueiredo, Tomás de; Hernandez Hernandez, Zulimar; Gusmão, Andressa GrieblerThe cork oak (Quercus suber) is significant for its economic and environmental impact. In 2013, Picões (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal) experienced a major forest fire (14,912 ha), destroying over 256,64 ha of cork oak forests. Due to degraded soil and steep slopes in the area, forest regeneration wasn’t fully achieved. As part of Ecology Day, funded by EEA Grant, this study aims to reforest 32 ha on the slopes of the reservoir in Lagos do Sabor, constructed post-fire, focusing on the recovery of Mediterranean plant species. To achieve this, an experimental design was developed in a greenhouse using 800 cork oak seeds from the native forests of Picões. Several substrate treatments with different soil physical properties (porosity, apparent density, and humidity) were evaluated to investigate this species' growth and survival rate. Tests were conducted under controlled moisture and temperature (between 12 and 29 oC). Treatments included 200 seeds in each of the treatments: commercial substrate (SS), olive pomace compost (SC), and control in the sand with (SA) and without water stress (ST). The SS and SC substrates had similar nutritional characteristics, except for K, which was higher in SC. Preliminary data showed an early and higher germination rate in SS group. Significant differences were observed between treatments, particularly in the root biomass ratio: SA showed 26 %, SS 22 %, ST 22 %, and SC 19% relative to total biomass. Regarding water use efficiency, plants grown in the SC consumed less water per biomass unit (in terms of dry weight) than plants in SS and SA. This indicates that SC achieved equivalent biomass with reduced water use. This water use efficiency is expected to improve in future trials conducted under water-stressed conditions. The results highlight the importance of considering not only the physical but also the chemical properties of substrates, aiming for the survival of plants in a natural environment.