Açaí and Juçara Residues as Substrate Components for Euterpe edulis Seedling Production: Growth, Nutrient Status and Physiological Responses

Zonta, Luize Virginia; Santos, Paulo Cesar dos; Tavares, Rozane Franci de Moraes; Carvalho, Almy Cordeiro de; Freitas, Marta Simone Mendonça; Vieira, Henrique Duarte; Moraes, Simone de Paiva Caetano Bucker; Bento, Cíntia dos Santos; Zucoloto, Moises; Ramos, Alessandro Coutinho; Manhães, Vinicius de Freitas

doi:10.3390/horticulturae12060663

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Açaí and Juçara Residues as Substrate Components for Euterpe edulis Seedling Production: Growth, Nutrient Status and Physiological Responses

by

Luize Virginia Zonta

¹,

Paulo Cesar dos Santos

^2,*,

Rozane Franci de Moraes Tavares

³,

Almy Cordeiro de Carvalho, Junior

¹,

Marta Simone Mendonça Freitas

¹,

Henrique Duarte Vieira

¹

,

Simone de Paiva Caetano Bucker Moraes

²,

Cíntia dos Santos Bento

²

,

Moises Zucoloto

²,

Alessandro Coutinho Ramos

⁴

and

Vinicius de Freitas Manhães

¹

Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies, Northern Fluminense State University Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil

²

Center for Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Alegre Campus, Alegre 29500-000, ES, Brazil

³

Faculty of Agricultural, Biological and Applied Social Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Nova Xavantina 78690-000, MT, Brazil

⁴

Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vila Velha University (UVV), Vila Velha 29102-920, ES, Brazil

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Horticulturae 2026, 12(6), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060663

Submission received: 2 April 2026 / Revised: 29 April 2026 / Accepted: 8 May 2026 / Published: 25 May 2026

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Nutrition)

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Abstract

Agricultural residues can be used as substrate components for seedling production, contributing to cost reduction and waste management. This study evaluated the growth, nutritional composition, and physiological performance of Euterpe edulis seedlings cultivated under greenhouse conditions. It is one of the first to integrate morphological, nutritional, and physiological indicators to assess agro-industrial residues as substrate components. The experiment followed a randomized block design with five substrates and four replicates: commercial substrate; 100% crushed açaí and juçara seeds; 50% soil + 50% cattle manure; 50% soil + 50% crushed seeds; and 33.3% soil + 33.3% cattle manure + 33.3% crushed seeds. Plant height was not affected by substrate type, while stem diameter and leaflet length were greater in the commercial substrate. Root length was higher in the commercial substrate; however, root dry mass, surface area, and volume did not differ among treatments. Leaf number, leaflet width, leaf area, and Dickson quality index were similar across substrates, indicating comparable seedling quality. The shoot-to-root ratio was higher in seedlings grown in the substrate composed of 100% crushed seeds. Higher nitrogen concentration was observed in seedlings grown in substrates based on crushed residues, without differences in biomass, indicating the absence of a dilution effect. No statistical differences were observed for the remaining nutrients. Physiological parameters indicated adequate photosynthetic performance across treatments. Substrates based on crushed açaí and juçara residues showed comparable performance to the commercial substrate, representing a viable and sustainable alternative for E. edulis seedling production.

Keywords: seedling quality; alternative substrates; agro-industrial residues; plant nutrition

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zonta, L.V.; Santos, P.C.d.; Tavares, R.F.d.M.; Carvalho, A.C.d., Junior; Freitas, M.S.M.; Vieira, H.D.; Moraes, S.d.P.C.B.; Bento, C.d.S.; Zucoloto, M.; Ramos, A.C.; et al. Açaí and Juçara Residues as Substrate Components for Euterpe edulis Seedling Production: Growth, Nutrient Status and Physiological Responses. Horticulturae 2026, 12, 663. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060663

AMA Style

Zonta LV, Santos PCd, Tavares RFdM, Carvalho ACd Junior, Freitas MSM, Vieira HD, Moraes SdPCB, Bento CdS, Zucoloto M, Ramos AC, et al. Açaí and Juçara Residues as Substrate Components for Euterpe edulis Seedling Production: Growth, Nutrient Status and Physiological Responses. Horticulturae. 2026; 12(6):663. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060663

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zonta, Luize Virginia, Paulo Cesar dos Santos, Rozane Franci de Moraes Tavares, Almy Cordeiro de Carvalho, Junior, Marta Simone Mendonça Freitas, Henrique Duarte Vieira, Simone de Paiva Caetano Bucker Moraes, Cíntia dos Santos Bento, Moises Zucoloto, Alessandro Coutinho Ramos, and et al. 2026. "Açaí and Juçara Residues as Substrate Components for Euterpe edulis Seedling Production: Growth, Nutrient Status and Physiological Responses" Horticulturae 12, no. 6: 663. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060663

APA Style

Zonta, L. V., Santos, P. C. d., Tavares, R. F. d. M., Carvalho, A. C. d., Junior, Freitas, M. S. M., Vieira, H. D., Moraes, S. d. P. C. B., Bento, C. d. S., Zucoloto, M., Ramos, A. C., & Manhães, V. d. F. (2026). Açaí and Juçara Residues as Substrate Components for Euterpe edulis Seedling Production: Growth, Nutrient Status and Physiological Responses. Horticulturae, 12(6), 663. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060663

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Açaí and Juçara Residues as Substrate Components for Euterpe edulis Seedling Production: Growth, Nutrient Status and Physiological Responses

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