Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on dry matter production and nutrient accumulation in ‘tahiti’ lime seedlings

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium application in ‘Tahiti’ lime seedlings, grafted to ‘Flying Dragon’, on absorption of these nutrients and the production of dry matter weight. The experimental design was arranged in a completely randomized design in factorial 33 + 1, and 3 factors (NPK), 3 doses (N1/2 = 459; N1 = 918; N2 = 1836; P1/2 = 92; P1 = 184; P2 = 368; K1/2 = 438; K1 = 876; K2 = 1752 mg L^-1) and a control, with 3 replications. Three weekly applications of fertirrigation, with 200 mL of the nutrient solution per plant, were carried out during the experimental period. After 215 days of grafting, the dry matter weight and the N, P e K accumulation were determined. The use of the N, P and K fertilization showed higher growth and accumulation of the nutrients on the shoot and roots of the ‘Tahiti’ lime seedlings, grafted to ‘Flying Dragon’, in comparison to the control. The ‘Tahiti’ seedlings production, in doses of 1836, 368 and 876 mg L^-1, respectively, were sufficient for the proper development of the seedlings. The N, P and K accumulation in the whole plant for the right dose was 684.3 mg, 56.5 mg and 533.7 mg, respectively,
and together they focused on the shoot (78%), in comparison to the root (22%).