An experiment with 'cumaru' (Amburana cearensis), semi-arid native tree of multiple uses, was conducted under semi controlled conditions aiming to study the effects of irrigation, organic matter fertilization and mulching on the seedling growth. Five water regimes, based on the water evapotranspiration, (0.25; 0.50; 0.75; 1.00 and 1.25 ET); three levels of manure application, as fraction of the total volume of the soil (0.25; 0.50 and 0.75) with and without mulching were studied. The experimental design was a factorial in randomized blocks and four replicates. One hundred and forty seven days after sowing, it was observed that with the exception of the plant height none of the studied variables were affected by the treatments. It seems that the 'cumaru' is a highly adapted plant to soil water stress and organic matter. The presence of mulching besides increasing the seedling height presented a 41% irrigation water economy.
scrubland; soil water; native plant; manure
