Phosphate fertilization over the accumulation of macronutrients in cauliflower seed production

Abstract

abstract Considering the scarce information on nutrient extraction by plants for seed production within vegetable crops, as well as the effect of fertilization over extraction, studying nutrient accumulation in different plant parts under varied fertilization rates is necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of phosphate rates on macronutrient accumulation in cauliflower plants during seed production. Five phosphate rates were studied (0, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 kg/ha P2O5), in a randomized complete block design, with four replications. Accumulation of nutrients in the different plant parts was evaluated at the end of the cycle (vegetative and reproductive, the latter divided in seeds and inflorescence). Data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression. Considering only the seeds, a quadratic effect was obtained for the accumulation of all macronutrients, with maximum estimated for rates between 858 and 952 kg/ha P2O5. Considering the whole plant (total accumulation), a linear increase for P, Ca and S was obtained the higher the P2O5 rates, while the effect was quadratic for N, K and Mg accumulation. The total nutrient accumulation descending order was: K>N>Ca>S>P>Mg, and considering only the seeds was: N>S>K>P>Ca>Mg, S being highlighted as the second most accumulated nutrient in the seeds.