Nitrogen fertilization in the production of seedlings of Talisia esculenta (A. St. Hil) Radlk

Abstract

ABSTRACT ‘Pitombeira’ does not have organized cultivation, thus requiring information related to the production of seedlings, particularly in relation to chemical fertilizer. In this context, an experiment was conducted in order to define the best dose of nitrogen (N), using urea as N source, to be applied in ‘pitombeira’ seedlings. The experimental design was complete randomized blocks with four replicates and ten plants per plot, testing five N doses (0, 400, 800, 1.600 and 3.200 mg dm-3). Data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression. The non-destructive measurements (number of leaves, stem diameter, shoot length and the ratio between shoot length and stem diameter) were evaluated at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after transplanting (DAT). In addition, shoot, root and total dry matter and Dickson quality index were determined at 120 DAT. Nitrogen fertilizations, from the dose of 500 mg N dm-3 as top-dressing, were those that led to the most vigorous ‘pitombeira’ plants, while plants developed with dose above 1.600 mg of N dm-3 showed a reduction in their vigor.