Avaliação do crescimento inicial de Jatropha curcas L. sob diferentes doses de fósforo aplicados na base

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the influence of different doses of phosphorus (P2O5) applied at the base on the initial growth of Jatropha curcas L. The experimental randomized blocks design was used with four replications. The treatments consisted of the following doses of phosphorus fertilization: 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g plant-1 of P2O5 at 36, 60, 71, 85, 106, 140, 177, 199, 235 and 263 days after seedlings transplanting. Growth parameters evaluated were as follows: plant height, stem diameter, number of primary and secondary branches, number of inflorescences, fruits number, leaf area and seed yield. The P2O5 levels influenced the early growth of the plants. For most of the evaluated characteristics (plant height, number of primary branches, inflorescences, number of fruits), a dose of 150 g plant-1 was the one that promoted greater increase to 140 DAT. Due to the high genetic variability among plants, and the fact that scientists in the field of genetic improvement are working for the development of cultivars with desirable agronomic characteristics, it is necessary to conduct further studies with phosphate fertilizer for the cultivation of Jatropha.