Evaluación de sustratos para el trasplante de mora de castilla (Rubus glaucus Benth.) en Pelileo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of four substrate types on the initial transplanting of Castilla blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth.) seedlings into nursery bags in order to improve plant growth prior to field establishment in Pelileo and to identify the substrate mixture with the best agronomic performance under local agroecological conditions. The experiment was conducted at an altitude of 2912 m above sea level using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments and three replications, resulting in a total of twelve experimental units. The evaluated substrates were: T1 = 100% commercial peat, T2 = 100% leaf litter, T3 = 40% black soil + 30% rice husk + 30% organic matter, and T4 = 100% local soil (control). The variables assessed at 45 and 60 days after transplanting were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaflets, and chlorophyll content. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and mean comparisons were performed using Tukey's test at the 5% significance level. The results showed significant and highly significant differences among treatments for plant height, number of leaflets, and stem diameter. Treatment T1 (100% commercial peat) exhibited the best performance, reaching 21.27 cm in plant height, 26.33 leaflets, and 3.00 mm stem diameter at 60 days after transplanting. Treatments T2 and T3 showed statistically similar values, whereas T4 presented the lowest agronomic performance.