Efeito de cobertura vegetal sobre o crescimento e desenvolvimento de mudas de erva-mate

Abstract

The lack of knowledge about management in the implantation of herbs becomes justification for the present study, given the economic importance of the culture for family agriculture and the economy of the South region of Brazil. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of winter cover species on the morphophysiological characteristics of mate grass seedlings. A randomized block design with four replications was used. The species used were Avena strigosa, Lolium multiflorum, Vicia sativa, Raphanus sativus, Lupinus albus, Axonopus catharinensis, the consortium between A. sativa and V. sativa, in addition to the control treatment without cover. The variables evaluated in the yerba mate were concentration of sub-stomatic CO2, photosynthetic rate, CO2 consumed, stomatal conductance of water vapors, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, chlorophyll, stem diameter, plant height, leaf area and the dry mass of the aerial part and root and dry mass of the coverings. The competition for light and water factors was observed, and the uncultured control did not show interference in the morphological characteristics of the yerba mate. The A. catharinensis species resulted in the best coverage being less competitive. A. sativa was the species that most negatively affected the growth and development of yerba mate.