Nitrogen and potassium fertilization on cabbage biometrics and foliar nutritional levels

Ana Carolina Marques Mendonça Silva,José Luiz Rodrigues Torres,Pablo Forlan Vargas,Onésio Francisco Silva Neto,Ernane Miranda Lemes,Hamilton César Oliveira Charlo

doi:10.14808/sci.plena.2021.010201

Abstract

Among the most absorbed nutrients by cabbage, nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) are the most extracted; thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the responses of N and K fertilization on the cabbage biometrics and foliar levels of macro and micronutrients. Four N doses (0, 75, 150, 300 kg ha-1 of N) and four K doses (0, 75, 150, 300 kg ha-1 of K2O). Biometrics of cabbage head (height, circumference and diameter) and productivity were evaluated. The cabbage levels of macro and micronutrients were also evaluated in leaves of plants at the phenological stage of head-formation. Nitrogen fertilization did not significantly affect the variables evaluated mostly due to the great natural fertility of the experimental soil area. This lack of response highlights the importance of constant monitoring of the nutritional status of the productive area to avoid non-necessary N fertilization. The lowest Mg leaf content was observed at 88 kg ha-1 of K2O, after which the Mg leaf content increased. The foliar Zn was reduced in doses after 133 kg ha-1 of K2O. The cabbage head diameter and circumference decreased with the increase of the K2O doses. The cabbage head height increased up to 128 kg ha-1 of K2O. The decreasing sequence of the macro and micronutrient levels in cabbage leaves followed the sequence K>Ca>N>S>Mg>P and Mn>Fe>B>Zn>Cu regardless of the level of the factors applied.

Highlights

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is the one of the most cultivated crops of the Brassicaceae plant family and genetic breeding improvements has generated cabbage cultivars able to be cultivated during the whole year [1]
The basic soil fertilization occurred two days before seedling transplant, and 300 kg ha-1 of P2O5 and 20% of the N and K doses were applied
According to Wang et al (2013) [4], K is essential to the formation and translocation of carbohydrates, it improves the efficiency of water uses and increases the commercial quality of the final product

Summary

Introduction

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is the one of the most cultivated crops of the Brassicaceae plant family and genetic breeding improvements has generated cabbage cultivars able to be cultivated during the whole year [1]. Capitata) is the one of the most cultivated crops of the Brassicaceae plant family and genetic breeding improvements has generated cabbage cultivars able to be cultivated during the whole year [1]. This horticultural crop is of a short cycle, shallow root system, and, needs high quantities of nutrients to express its productive potential and. According to Wang et al (2013) [4], K is essential to the formation and translocation of carbohydrates, it improves the efficiency of water uses and increases the commercial quality of the final product (cabbage head). Domingues Neto et al (2016) [5] reported that to obtain high yields the cabbage cannot undergo nutritional deficiencies, being the N essential to the production of compact cabbage head (great firmness) desired by the market

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Conclusion