Mineral composition and growth of babycorn under swine wastewater combined with chemical fertilization

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of wastewater from swine manure (ARS) and chemical fertilization on foliar concentrations of macronutrients and micronutrients, and its relationship with the growth of babycorn. An experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replications in 4 x 2 factorial arrangement, which consisted of the application of four doses of swine wastewater (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha-1) and two levels of chemical fertilization (0 and 40 kg ha-1). The results indicated that the increase in fertilization using swine wastewater manure resulted in significant differences for babycorn's foliar concentrations of N and P, promoting levels below the adequate for N and K, appropriate levels of Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe, and levels above the adequate for P, Ca, Mg and S. For growth variables, results indicated significant differences and the increased use of fertilizer with swine wastewater promoted higher plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, number of leaves per plant and absolute growth rate.