ADUBAÇÃO NITROGENADA E POTÁSSICA NA CONCENTRAÇÃO DE NUTRIENTES DO CAPIM-XARAÉS

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in glasshouse, at Rice and Beans Embrapa aiming to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and potassium fertilization, on nutrients concentration in grass Xaraes. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme combination (four doses of N: 0; 25, 50 and 100 mg dm-3 and four doses of K: 0; 25, 50 and 100 mg dm-3) with three replicates. The nitrogen source utilized, was urea and the K source was potassium chloride. Three cuttings were performed with 30 days intervals. Each dose of nitrogen and potassium fertilization was split into three applications. The forage plant was cut at a height of 5 cm from the ground. The results showed significant interactions between doses of nitrogen and potassium that increases the leaf nitrogen and potassium concentrations. Nitrogen fertilization increased the potassium, copper and iron concentration. Considering that the plant used in this study is a new cultivar, it suggests studies of these nutrients, in a field condition, in order to get more information on this forage plant so that the handling strategies one becomes more efficient. KEY WORDS: Brachiaria brizantha cv. xaraes, macronutrients, micronutrients, potassium chloride and urea