Growth performance of Araruta under different biofertilization regime

Abstract

Mineral nutrition of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea L.) has been little studied and knowing about the crop growth is required to develop a sustainable fertilization program with minor contamination risk for the environment. The use of biofertilizers is an option for arrowroot fertilization. This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the vegetative growth of arrowroot fertilized by different biofertilizers sources and doses. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block, in subdivided plots, with four replicatens. The plots consisted of 17 growth evaluation periods, between 42 and 282 days after planting, the subplots by fertilizer sources (bovine and sheep manure) and the sub-plots by biofertilizer rates (0, 300, 600, 900, and 1,200 mL plant^-1 week^-1). Plant height (PH), number of leaves (NL), number of tillers (NT) and pseudostem base diameter (D) were evaluated every two weeks. PH, NL, NT and D maximum were obtained with 1,200 mL plant^-1 week^-1 of bovine and ovine biofertilizers. Exception to PH in the sheep source, maximum at 1,045 mL plant^-1 week^-1. Availability of nutrients was higher with 1,200 mL plant^-1 week^-1, favoring the growth of plants. Bovine and sheep manure biofertilizers based are effective for supplying the nutritional requirements of common arrowroot.