Abstract
Synchronizing the timing of fertilizer applications with plant nutrient demand increases the nutritional efficiency and decrease the cost of production. The objective of this study was to determine the growth and the nutrient uptake and export by heliconia ‘Red Opal’. The experiment was carried out in a shade house and Heliconia psittacorum ‘Red Opal’ rhizomes were planted in soil classified as Arenic Kandinstults. The experimental design was completely randomized with nine plant sampling (zero; 30; 90; 150; 210; 270; 330; 390 and 450 days after planting) and five replicates. Leaves, sheathing leaf bases, flower stem, rhizomes and roots were collected every sampling and dry mass and nutrients accumulation were determined. Heliconia plants showed slow initial development but from the 210 days of planting, which corresponds with the beginning of the flower stem harvest there is a marked increase in dry mass accumulation. Nutrient accumulation followed the decreasing order: K > N = Ca > P = Mg > S > Fe = Mn > Zn > Cu = B. Potassium and calcium were the most exported macronutrients by heliconia flower stem and among the micronutrients, manganese was the most exported.
Highlights
Synchronizing the timing of fertilizer applications with plant nutrient demand is critical for any crop production
The R2 values higher than 0.9421** indicate that the exponential model can explain most of the variability of heliconia ‘Red Opal’ leaves, rhizomes and total dry mass (Figure 2)
From the 210 days of planting, when heliconia flower stem began the harvest (Figure 3), there was a marked increase in dry mass accumulation until the end of the evaluation period
Summary
Synchronizing the timing of fertilizer applications with plant nutrient demand is critical for any crop production. When this aim is reached, the nutritional efficiency increases and the cost of production decreases. For most of the crops the dry mass and the nutrient accumulation dynamics are well established but for ornamental plants are rare, especially for tropical flowers. Studies related to mineral nutrition of ornamental plants are scarce as floriculture is a relatively recent economic activity when compared to other commercial crops (FURTINI NETO et al, 2015). Different NPK formulations are frequently used by the heliconia growers, but the development phase (vegetative or reproductive), seasonality or highest flowering periods are not considered when fertilizations are planned (CASTRO et al, 2011). Responses to fertilization vary even within the Heliconia species (FERREIRA and OLIVEIRA, 2003; MACHADO NETO et al, 2011)
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