LAUSR

ABSTRACT Senna multijuga is an arboreal species well established in various Brazilian biomes, which has the potential for applications recovering degraded areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological quality in the nursery and the initial growth in the field of S. multijuga seedlings, planted in different substrates and proportions of organic residues. Copernicia prunifera residues, organic compost (OC), and decomposed stem of Mauritia flexuosa were added with samples of Yellow Latosol formulated at proportions of 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, and 80:20 (residue:soil, v:v). In the nursery, the following variables were evaluated: percentage of emergence, emergency speed index, stem diameter, shoot height, total leaf chlorophyll, leaf area, leaf area ratio, dry matter (shoots, roots, and total), Dickson quality index, and nitrogen uptake in shoots. In the field stage, shoot height, stem diameter at soil level, height/diameter ratio, and survival percentage were evaluated. In the nursery, the combination of OC and soil at a proportion of 57:43 provided the greatest seedling growth. In the field, seedlings cultivated with the decomposed stem of Mauritia flexuosa showed a higher survival rate, while seedlings cultivated in substrate based on OC showed superior growth in height and stem diameter.