Seedling production is one of the more important phases on the cultivation of trees, with this phase being essential for their appropriate development. The study had the objective of evaluating the growth and the absorption of nutrients in mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) seedling under the effect of corrective growing doses. The experiment was carried out from September 2002 to August 2003. The treatments were, 0; 0.5; 1.0; 2.0; 2.5; 3.0 and 5.0 t/ha, of a mixture of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate p.a., in the 4:1 proportion. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 5 repetitions, in a total of 35 parcels, each one with 3 plants. The substratum was fertilized with equivalents doses to 200-500-300 kg.ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively and 15 kg.ha-1 of micronutrients FTE-Br12. The growth characteristics evaluated were height, diameter of the stem, dry biomass of the aerial part, root and total, aerial part/root relation. It was determined the moisture contents of the aerial part, root and total and as a function of the last one it was estimated the contents. The averages were compared by the test of Tukey using 5% of probability. The liming affected all the growth characteristics, except the height. The nutritional necessity followed a decreasing order of K>N>Ca>Mg>P>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu. The dose of 0.5 t.ha-1 was more advantageous from the economic point of view and can be recommended to acid subsoil of low natural fertility to compose substratum.
Liming; substratum; mahogany