Abstract
Agriculture in Brazil has improved at a fast pace in recent years, given the growing demand for quality and the need for new products. In this respect, white pitaya [Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose] has become a feasible alternative for Northeast farmers. The limiting factors include a small amount of data on plant mineral nutrition and crop growth (phenology). Therefore, this study goal was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) on crop development and gas exchange in white pitaya grown in the coastal region of the state of Ceara, in Brazil. Sixteen treatments with three repetitions were organized in a completely randomized block design and a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement. Treatments consisted of various concentrations of K (0; 125; 250 and 375 mg dm-3) and Ca (0, 53, 106, and 159 mg dm-3). Biometric characteristics and gas exchange were determined after 270 and 240 days of treatment, respectively. For morphometric characteristics, the most significant nutrient combination was 250 mg dm-3 of K and 159 mg dm-3 of Ca. Net photosynthesis was higher at the dose of 125 mg dm-3 of K and 0 mg dm-3 of Ca. Our results indicate that, for the environmental conditions under which the test was conducted, an optimum nutrient combination for the analyzed variables was 250 mg dm-3 K and 159 mg dm-3 Ca.
Highlights
Nutrient interactions may occur before nutrient assimilation by the plant, at the soil-plant interface
Potassium (K) is involved in carbohydrate translocation, and stomatal opening and closing; this nutrient assumes an important role in gas exchange for many plant species
Cardoso and Villas Bôas (2010) highlighted the importance of K for plant development and observed its participation in the activation of enzymes involved in respiration and photosynthesis (HEIDARI; JAMSHID, 2010)
Summary
Nutrient interactions may occur before nutrient assimilation by the plant, at the soil-plant interface These interactions affect nutrient absorption, transport, and metabolism, cause nutritional disorders, decreasing crop productivity (PRADO; VIDAL, 2008). In this respect, Fontes (2014) emphasized the importance of an adequate nutrient management at the soil-plant-environmentgenotype interface to ensure an efficient use of nutrients by plants. Potassium (K) is involved in carbohydrate translocation, and stomatal opening and closing; this nutrient assumes an important role in gas exchange for many plant species. Kano, Cardoso and Villas Bôas (2010) highlighted the importance of K for plant development and observed its participation in the activation of enzymes involved in respiration and photosynthesis (HEIDARI; JAMSHID, 2010). K promotes an increase in cell wall thickness, which confers greater rigidity to plant tissues (ANDRIOLO et al, 2010)
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