Resumo A adição de polímeros hidroretentores visa aumentar a capacidade de retenção de água no solo, propiciando maior taxa de sobrevivência das mudas e permitindo o plantio em épocas distintas do ano. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito do uso do hidrogel no plantio de mudas de Eucalyptus dunnii em vasos, relacionado com diferentes manejos hídricos, simulando condições de campo em solo do tipo Cambissolo Húmico. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com arranjo fatorial (hidrogel e frequência de irrigação). O fator hidrogel foi composto por presença ou ausência do polímero, e a frequência de irrigação por irrigação somente no plantio, a cada 8 dias, 4 dias e diariamente. Foram realizadas avaliações da sintomatologia do estresse hídrico, aspectos morfométricos, teor de água no solo e trocas gasosas. O hidrogel proporcionou aumento no teor de água no solo e o adiamento nos sintomas de estresse hídrico, principalmente quando a irrigação foi efetuada com menor frequência. A adição do polímero também proporcionou melhoria na qualidade das mudas, com maior acúmulo de massa seca. O estresse hídrico foi um fator limitante para a abertura estomática. Quanto menor a disponibilidade de água, menores foram os valores de fotossíntese, condutância estomática e transpiração. Em geral, os resultados obtidos confirmam que a adição de hidrogel no solo otimiza a disponibilidade de água, com possibilidade de redução da mortalidade no plantio e maximização do crescimento das plantas na fase inicial de estabelecimento.

Abstract The addition of water-repelling polymers aims to increase water retention capacity in the soil, providing higher seedling survival rate and allowing planting at different times of the year. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of hydrogel use on planting Eucalyptus dunnii seedlings in pots, related to different water management, simulating field conditions in a Humic Cambisol soil. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement (hydrogel and irrigation frequency). The hydrogel factor was composed by the presence or absence of the polymer, and the frequency of irrigation by irrigation only at planting, every 8 days, 4 days and daily. Water stress symptomatology, morphometric aspects, soil water content and gas exchange were evaluated. The hydrogel provided an increase in soil water content and delayed symptoms of water stress, especially when irrigation was less frequent. The addition of the polymer also provided improved seedling quality, more accumulated dry mass. Water stress was a limiting factor for stomatal opening. The lower the water availability, the lower the photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration values. In general, the results confirm that the addition of hydrogel in the soil optimizes water availability, with the possibility of reducing planting mortality and maximizing plant growth in the initial phase of establishment.

ABSTRACT Sequoia sempervirens is different from other species not only for its excellent vigor and longevity, but also for quality wood productivity. The objective of this work was to evaluate the rooting of Sequoia sempervirens mini-cuttings in different cultivation environments. In both experiments, rooting was evaluated in time to determine the root development in each environment. Mini-cuttings from clone A228 from clonal mini-garden were used. In the first experiment the material was placed to take root in three different environments: greenhouse (GH), shadehouse (SH) and mini-tunnel, with evaluation performed every 30 days (from 30 to 150 days). In the second experiment, we compared the development and rooting in mini-tunnel, greenhouse with intermittent mist (GWIM), with weekly evaluations (from 30 to 93 days). Both experiments were installed in a completely randomized design, with subsequent evaluation of the survival percentage, percentage of rooted cuttings and number of roots emitted by rooted cuttings. Humidity and temperature data were also collected in all environments observed. The mini-tunnel was the most efficient place for sequoia mini-cutting, presenting higher survival, rooting and number of roots when compared to the shadehouse and the greenhouse. In addition, it provided rooting similar to the greenhouse with intermittent mist (close to 90%). It is recommended to keep mini-cuttings in a mini-tunnel or greenhouse with intermittent mist for a period of 90 days for proper rooting to occur. Good temperature control was also observed in this structure, as well as excellent humidity control. The mini-tunnel can be used for sequoia propagation by mini-cuttings as it has shown good rooting results (> 80%).