Effect of different substrates in Dasylirion acrotrichum (Schiede) Zucc. seedling growth Efecto de diferentes sustratos en el crecimiento de plántulas de Dasylirion acrotrichum (Schiede) Zucc.

Dasylirion acrotrichum is a species used primarily as a religious ornament and is beginning to be exploited by the liquor industry in Oaxaca. Despite this, there is no technical or scientific study of the species, so it is imperative to generate knowledge of it. Therefore, the effect of three different substrates on the growth of D. acrotrichum seedlings was evaluated. The trial was established within the greenhouse belonging to Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. The seeds were germinated and transplanted to polyethylene containers with three different treatments: agricultural land-tezontle (2:1), agricultural land (100 %) and agricultural land-tezontle (1:1). The variables studied were: root biomass, aerial, total and number of leaves. Two measurements were made at 6 and 18 months after the transplant and the data obtained were subjected to a variance analysis. At 6 months, the treatment of agricultural land-tezontle (1:1) had the highest root biomass and total biomass surpassing the other treatments by up to 31.94 % and 23.75 %, respectively. At 18 months, the treatment of agricultural land-tezontle (1:1), reaches the highest aerial and total biomass, surpassing in up to 25.5 % and 24.6 % respectively to the rest of the treatments. Therefore, it is inferred that this substrate improves the initial growth in this species. © 2019 National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research. All Rights Reserved.