Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento de mudas de cafeeiros (Coffea arabica L.) produzidas em diferentes recipientes e substratos quando transplantadas no campo, sem irrigação complementar. O experimento foi conduzido no Setor de Cafeicultura da Universidade Federal de Lavras – UFLA, no período janeiro de 2004 a setembro de 2005. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, utilizando mudas produzidas em três recipientes: tubetes de polietileno rígido de 50 mL; tubetes de 120 mL; e saquinhos de polietileno de 700 mL, e três substratos: substrato alternativo; substrato comercial; e substrato padrão, composto terra e esterco bovino. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que, no campo, 20 meses após o transplante, os cafeeiros provenientes de mudas produzidas em saquinho de polietileno e em tubete de 120 mL utilizando substrato padrão são superiores aos provenientes de mudas produzidas em tubetes de 50 mL.
With the objective of evaluating the effects of different recipients and substrates in the production of coffee tree seedlings (Coffea arabica L.), an experiment was conducted in the Coffee Sector of the Department of Agriculture of Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, during the period from September of 2003 to January of 2004. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement of 3 x 3. The recipients were of rigid polyethylene tubettes /50 mL capacity; tubettes /120 mL capacity; and 10x20cm polyethylene bags, with approximate capacity of 700 mL. The substrates used were alternative substrate, composed of 65% charred rice hulls + 35% commercial substrate; Plantmax® vegetables HT commercial substrate; and standard substrate, composed of 70% earth + 30% bovine manure. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the recipients and the substrate, being used, can significantly influence the development of coffee tree seedlings; and the recipients of larger volume (polyethylene bags and 120 mL tubettes) filled with the alternative and commercial substrates provide seedlings of a more superior quality.
