The effect of recipients, substrate mixtures, diameters of tillers and of different leaf lengths kept on the tiller was evaluated for transplant production of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf.). In the first assay, we tested two recipients and nine mixtures of substrates. The tublet recipient of 110 cm3 was better than the expanded polystyrene foam bed with 72 cells of 121.2 cm3 and all the tested substrates (coconut dust, carbonized rice hulls and bovine manure at rates of 1:1:2, and coconut dust, carbonized rice hulls, soil and bovine manure at rates of 1:1:1:3) resulted in good quality of lemon grass transplants. In the second assay, we tested two tiller diameters (>1.5 and <1.5 cm) and the maintenance of four leaf lengths on tiller (0, 3, 6 and 9 cm). It was concluded that if tillers were thicker than 1.5 cm diameter, then 5.5 cm of leaf length should be kept and if the tiller diameter were inferior to 1.5 cm, then the total leaf area should be cut off in order to promote tilling.
Cymbopogon citratus; coconut dust; manure; carbonized rice hulls; tiller; tublet
