IS SEEDLING RESCUE A VIABLE STRATEGY FOR PRODUCING Virola surinamensis SEEDLINGS WITH CONTROLLED-RELEASE FERTILIZER?

Abstract

The rapid expansion of deforestation and forest degradation in the Amazon has intensified the demand for native seedlings for restoration programs, while seed and seedling availability remains a major bottleneck. Although seedling rescue has emerged as a promising alternative propagation strategy, its application and management remain poorly studied for most Amazonian species, including Virola surinamensis (Rol. ex Rottb.) Warb., a vulnerable species with restoration potential. This study evaluated the viability of seedling rescue for V. surinamensis and assessed the effects of controlled-release fertilizer doses applied during nursery production on seedling survival, growth, and physiological performance. Seedlings were rescued from a forest fragment and cultivated under four fertilizer doses (0.0, 4.1, 8.2, and 12.3 g dm⁻³) over 110 days under greenhouse conditions. Seedling survival was high (97%) and was not affected by fertilizer application. In contrast, controlled-release fertilization significantly improved morphological and physiological attributes, including biomass accumulation, Dickson Quality Index, SPAD index, and gas exchange parameters. However, responses tended to saturate at higher doses, with no additional gains beyond 4.1 g dm⁻³. Effect size analysis indicated a large magnitude of fertilization effects on seedling quality traits. Overall, seedling rescue represents a viable propagation strategy for V. surinamensis, and the application of controlled-release fertilizer at 4.1 g dm⁻³ is recommended to optimize seedling quality without unnecessary increases in production costs, supporting the use of this technique in Amazonian forest restoration programs.