Abstract
ABSTRACT Splitting nitrogen (N) fertilizer application can be an efficient nutrient management technique to improve productivity and plant quality, as well as to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by N losses. In this context, the present study investigated how the management of N affects the agronomic characteristics of field-grown arugula plants. Nine treatments were assessed in a randomized complete block design, in a 4 x 2 + 1 factorial scheme, with three replicates. The evaluated factors were doses of N (60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1), split N fertilizer applications at side-dress (two and three times) and an additional treatment without a N supply. Maximum height was obtained with the application of 198 kg N ha-1. Nitrate content, fresh mass and productivity increased with increasing N doses. There was no effect of split N fertilizer applications on the characteristics evaluated. Therefore, the supply of 240 kg N ha-1 divided into two portions was considered as the best management strategy.
Highlights
Arugula (Eruca sativa) is an economically important leafy green that has been gaining prominence in the vegetable group for being a phytonutrient-rich food (JASPER; WAGSTAFF; BELL, 2020)
The overuse of N fertilizers resulted in the low N use efficiency and antagonism with other nutrients, thereby affecting the growth of plants, since with the increase of ammonium nitrate application in the treatments with higher N doses there was an increase in the proportions of NH4+, an element that negatively affects the absorption of other cations (K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) (NASCIMENTO; NASCIMENTO; CECÍLIO FILHO, 2020)
The lack of positive effect of N fertilization may be related to the small plasticity of the characteristic number of leaves, small number of leaves per plant and short cycle of arugula
Summary
Arugula (Eruca sativa) is an economically important leafy green that has been gaining prominence in the vegetable group for being a phytonutrient-rich food (JASPER; WAGSTAFF; BELL, 2020). Splitting the total N dose into two or more portions possibly synchronizes the N supply with the capacity of plants to utilize the nutrient more efficiently, improving N use efficiency, productivity and plant quality, as well as reducing the costs and negative environmental impact of N losses.
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