Chemical fertilization, organic fertilization and pyroligneous extract in the development of seedlings of areca bamboo palm (Dypsis lutescens)

the effect of using chemical fertilization, organic and pyroligneous extract (epl) on the seedling development of areca bamboo palm was evaluated. treatments were: t1 = no fertilizer (control), t2 = 0.1% epl, t3 = 0.2% epl, t4 = npk-20-5-20, t5 = npk-20-5-20 + 0.1% epl, t6 = npk-20-05-20 + 0.2% epl, t7 = castor bean cake, t8 = castor bean cake + 0.1% epl and t9 = castor bean cake + 0.2% epl. the epl solutions were 0.1 or 0.2%, 100 ml per pot, applied every two weeks. npk 20-5-20 chemical fertilizer was applied at three month intervals and castor bean cake organic fertilizer was applied once a month (40 g per pot for both). plant height and the number of leaves and shoots were evaluated one year after the beginning of the trial. the organic fertilizer on its own and with epl (t7, t8 and t9) produced the tallest plants and highest number of leaves. organic fertilizer with 0.1 and 0.2% epl produced the most shoots. for all variables, chemical fertilizer, both with and without epl, was less effective than organic fertilizer with epl and treatment with only epl was less effective than treatment with organic fertilizer.