NPK Fertilization at Planting for Physalis (Physalis peruviana L.)

Abstract

Physalis peruviana L. (Solanaceae) is an Andean shrub species that produces sugary fruits.The cultivation of this species is recent, thus, aspects related to soil fertilization for it still need to bestudied. The objective of this work was to define the rates of NPK fertilizer applied at planting thatmeet the requirements of physalis crops. The experiment was conducted at Institute Federal of MinasGerais (IFMG), Campus Bambuí, from February 25 to November 23, 2015. A completely randomizeddesign was used, with 8 treatments and 6 replications, totaling 48 experimental units. The treatmentsconsisted of N, P2O5, and K2O rates (kg ha-1), using urea (45% N), monoammonium phosphate(9% N and 44% P2O5), and potassium chloride (58% of K2O). Morphological and bromatologicalcharacteristics and fruit production were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance andthe means grouped by the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. The NPK rate that generates the higherfruit production and greater savings is 1200 mg dm-3 of N, 3600 mg dm-3 of P2O5, and 2400 mgdm-3 of K2O, and the NPK rate that results in greater morphological development is 1600 mg dm-3 ofN, 4800 mg dm-3 of P2O5, and 3200 mg dm-3 of K2O.Keywords: Cape gooseberry. Mineral nutrition of plants. Soil fertility. Production.