The determination of viable alternative substrates is of great importance for the production of medicinal seedlings since the use of residues from agricultural activities represents an alternative to solve environmental and social problems. The experiments were carried out in protected environment and in the field, located in the Federal Technological University of Paraná, Dois Vizinhos Campus, Paraná State, Brazil. The aim of this work was to evaluate organic substrates for the production of mint seedlings in the field. Experimental design was in randomized blocks, with three replicates, in a factorial arrangement evaluating four substrates [bovine manure + vermiculite + sand (1:1:1); bovine manure + sand + soil (1:1:1); soil + vermiculite + poultry manure (1:1:1); and the organomineral substrate Plantmax® HA] and two mint species (Mentha gracilis and Mentha x villosa). Plant height and leaf number were evaluated at 07, 14 and 21 days after transplanting, besides death rate and fresh and dry matter of shoots and roots. There was no interaction between mint species and substrates for the evaluated variables. The organomineral substrate Plantmax® HA presented the best results for leaf number (8.44), height (8.46 cm), fresh matter (1.56 g plant-1), dry matter (0.23 g plant-1) and set (100% seedlings in the field), which is of great interest for the mint producer. Based on these results, we concluded that the substrate Plantmaxâ HA is the most recommended for the production of Mentha x villosa and Mentha gracilis seedlings.
Mentha gracilis; Mentha x villosa; medicinal plants; substrates
