APLICAÇÃO DE DIFERENTES TIPOS DE CUPINZEIROS NA PRODUÇÃO DE MUDAS DE MORINGA

Abstract

The use of alternative materials in seedling production has stood out as a sustainable and low-cost strategy in nursery farming. This study aimed to evaluate the application of different types of termite mounds as substrate components in the production of Moringa oleifera Lam seedlings. The research was conducted in a nursery, using a completely randomized experimental design, with seven treatments and three replications each, as follows: T1 - Arboreal termite; T2 - Reddish mound termite; T3 - Grayish mound termite; T4 - Commercial substrate (Carolina Soil®); T5 - Tree termite + sand + Trichoderma koningiopsis; T6 - Reddish mound termite + sand + T. koningiopsis; and T7 - Grayish mound termite + sand + T. koningiopsis. The morphological variables plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), biomass production (g), and Dickson Quality Index were evaluated. The results indicated that substrates containing termite mound material showed satisfactory performance, contributing to the initial development of seedlings, even though some morphological variables were inferior to the commercial substrate. It is concluded that the use of termite mounds as a substrate component is a viable and sustainable alternative for seedling production, favoring the recycling of natural resources and reducing costs in plant production.