Influence of liming and boron on development of young Swietenia macrophylla plants grown in Yellow Oxisol.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of young Swietenia macrophylla plants grown in Yellow Oxisol submitted to different liming and boron doses. Experimental design was completely randomized in factorial arrangement (|4x4|+1), with additional treatment (control), being 4 liming levels (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 t ha-1) combined with 4 boron levels (1, 2, 3 and 4 mg kg-1 of substrate). Parameters evaluated were plant height, stem diameter, stem dry matter, aerial part dry matter, root dry matter and aerial part dry matter/root dry matter ratio. The height of young Swietenia macrophylla plants was not influenced by liming and boron levels. Maximum yields of leaves and aerial part were obtained with doses of 1.57 and 1.44 t ha-1 of liming, respectively. The increase of boron levels negatively influenced the production of root dry matter. For the diameter and dry matter of stem and root significant interaction between liming and boron levels were observed. The better results linked to development of young Swietenia macrophylla plants were found at a dose of 1.5 t ha-1 of liming and 1.0 mg kg-1 of boron.