The Australian cedar (Toona ciliata M. Roem var. australis) is a promising species for commercial plantations based on the quality and wide use of its wood and high financial returns in short time. However, there is little information about the behavior of this species in relation to soil acidity. In this sense, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different base saturation levels on growth and quality of Australian cedar seedlings. The substrate saturation was raised to 21.3; 33.2; 47.9; 60.4 and 70.0%, by adding different doses of limestone content of 12% MgO and 50% CaO in vessels with capacity of 3.5 dm3 of a typical dystrophic Red Latosol (Oxisol). At 120 days after transplanting were obtained height, stem diameter, root dry matter, aerial parts and total. It was also determined the relationship height/stem diameter, height/aerial parts dry matter, aerial parts dry matter/root dry matter and Dickson's quality index. Australian cedar seedlings respond positively to the base saturation increase. The positive responses of morphological variables pointed to need to do the acidity correction increasing the level of saturation to 50 %, in order to maximize the crop yield.
base saturation; Australian cedar; seedlings quality
