Nitrogen fertilization and irrigation depths in yellow passionfruit. I. Yield and fruit quality

Conduziu-se um experimento em Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, no período de dezembro de 1995 a junho de 1997, para avaliar o efeito da adubação nitrogenada, sob diferentes lâminas de irrigação, na produtividade e na qualidade dos frutos do maracujazeiro-amarelo. Testaram-se quatro doses de nitrogênio (50, 250, 450 e 650 g planta-1 ano-1 de N), utilizando a uréia como fonte de N, sob seis lâminas de irrigação (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 e 125% da ET0 - evapotranspiração de referência), num esquema fatorial 4 x 6, com três repetições. Utilizou-se um sistema de irrigação por gotejamento. Não houve variação na produtividade quando o N foi aplicado sob lâminas de irrigação de 0, 25, 100 e 125% da ET0. A produtividade máxima de frutos, 41,3 t ha-1, foi obtida quando se aplicaram 290 g planta-1 ano-1 de N, sob uma lâmina de irrigação de 75% da ET0, o que correspondeu a uma lâmina total de água (irrigação + precipitação efetiva) de 1.293 mm. A adubação nitrogenada influenciou o número de frutos e não apresentou influência sobre o peso médio e outras características qualitativas dos frutos. A irrigação influenciou a produtividade, o peso médio, o comprimento e o diâmetro dos frutos.A field experiment was carried out, in Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, from December, 1995 to June, 1997, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization, under different irrigation depths, on yield and fruit quality of yellow passionfruit. Four nitrogen levels (50, 250, 450 and 650 g plant-1 year-1 of N) were tested, using urea as the source of N, under six irrigation depths (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125% of ET0 - reference crop evapotranspiration for grass), at 4 x 6 factorial scheme with three replications. A dripping irrigation system was used. There was no yield response due to increasing nitrogen levels when 0, 25, 100 and 125% of ET0 were applied. Maximum fruit yield (41.3 ton ha-1) was obtained when 290 g plant-1 year-1 of N was applied under an irrigation depth close to 75% of ET0, which corresponded to a total of 1,293 mm of applied water (irrigation + effective rainfall). Nitrogen fertilization influenced the number of fruit and did not show any effect on either average weight or other fruit qualitative characteristics. Irrigation depth had great influence on fruit yield, average weight, length and diameter

Mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate fertilization in the production of Euterpe edulis seedlings

The present study evaluated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on growth and nutrition of Euterpe edulis seedlings, supplemented or not with phosphate fertilization. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. The randomized block design, consisted of a 3x2 factorial arrangement and 4 replicates, with two phosphorus doses (0 and 50 mg dm-3 of soil), two microbiological treatments (Rhizophagus clarus;  laroideoglomus etunicatum; R. clarus + C. etunicatum) and control (without fungus). Sowing and inoculation occurred concurrently in 2 kg plastic bags. Height, collar diameter, leaf area, dry shoot mass, macronutrient content and mycorrhizal colonization percentage were determined after 226 days. Regarding mycorrhizal colonization percentage, R. clarus resulted significantly beneficial for the production of E. edulis seedlings. In the absence of phosphate fertilization, R. clarus and mixed inoculum increased all biometric variables and macronutrient contents in seedlings. Therefore, it is concluded that AMF inoculations provide beneficial effects for growth and nutrition of E. edulis seedlings, resulting in more vigorous plants at a low-cost strategy. Highlights: Rhizophagus clarus resulted significantly beneficial for the production of E. edulis seedlings and in the absence of phosphate fertilization, and mixed inoculum ( clarus + Claroideoglomus etunicatum) increased all biometric variables and macronutrient contents in seedlings. The AMF inoculations provide beneficial effects for growth and nutrition of E. edulis seedlings, resulting in more vigorous plants at a low-cost strategy. The AMF, a biological agent of mutualistic associations with plants, constitutes an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture, contributing to increase plant survival rate, a key-factor for the successful reintroduction and conservation of E. edulis, as well as for its commercial exploitation.The present study evaluated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on growth and nutrition of Euterpe edulis seedlings, supplemented or not with phosphate fertilization. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. The randomized block design, consisted of a 3x2 factorial arrangement and 4 replicates, with two phosphorus doses (0 and 50 mg dm-3 of soil), two microbiological treatments (Rhizophagus clarus;  laroideoglomus etunicatum; R. clarus + C. etunicatum) and control (without fungus). Sowing and inoculation occurred concurrently in 2 kg plastic bags. Height, collar diameter, leaf area, dry shoot mass, macronutrient content and mycorrhizal colonization percentage were determined after 226 days. Regarding mycorrhizal colonization percentage, R. clarus resulted significantly beneficial for the production of E. edulis seedlings. In the absence of phosphate fertilization, R. clarus and mixed inoculum increased all biometric variables and macronutrient contents in seedlings. Therefore, it is concluded that AMF inoculations provide beneficial effects for growth and nutrition of E. edulis seedlings, resulting in more vigorous plants at a low-cost strategy. Highlights: Rhizophagus clarus resulted significantly beneficial for the production of E. edulis seedlings and in the absence of phosphate fertilization, and mixed inoculum ( clarus + Claroideoglomus etunicatum) increased all biometric variables and macronutrient contents in seedlings. The AMF inoculations provide beneficial effects for growth and nutrition of E. edulis seedlings, resulting in more vigorous plants at a low-cost strategy. The AMF, a biological agent of mutualistic associations with plants, constitutes an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture, contributing to increase plant survival rate, a key-factor for the successful reintroduction and conservation of E. edulis, as well as for its commercial exploitation.

Leaf nutrient contents in yellow passionfruit in response to nitrogen fertilization, irrigation and sampling time

A realização de diagnósticos de culturas, através do conhecimento dos teores foliares dos nutrientes, em cada condição de cultivo, se justifica e tem por finalidade corrigir deficiências, inclusive com a utilização de ferramentas tais como o DRIS (Sistema Integrado de Diagnose e Recomendação), que auxiliam no manejo para a obtenção de altos rendimentos das culturas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos da adubação nitrogenada, irrigação e época de amostragem nos teores dos nutrientes foliares na cultura do maracujazeiro amarelo (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa). O experimento foi conduzido em Campos-RJ, em Argissolo Amarelo distrófico, onde foram combinadas quatro doses de nitrogênio (50 a 650 g por planta por ano de N) com 6 lâminas de irrigação (0 a 125% da ETo - Evapotranspiração de referência). Na maior produtividade de frutos (41,3 t ha-1), os teores de nutrientes foliares variaram de 40,8 a 58,1 g kg-1 de N, 2,58 a 3,85 g kg-1 de P, 23,2 a 38 g kg-1 de K, 6,13 a 14,4 g kg-1 de Ca, 2,23 a 4,28 g kg-1 de Mg, 3,2 a 4,64 g kg-1 de S, 13,1 a 32,4 g kg-1 de Cl, 21,1 a 36,5 mg kg-1 de Zn, 44,4 a 94,5 mg kg-1 de Mn, 82 a 246 mg kg-1 de Fe, 16,8 a 48,9 mg kg-1 de B e 3,97 a 234 mg kg-1 de Cu. A adubação nitrogenada afetou os teores foliares de N, K, S, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cl e B. A irrigação elevou os teores foliares de Cl e de Na e não influenciou nos teores foliares dos outros nutrientes.Crop diagnosis with knowledge of leaf nutrient contents, for each cultivation condition, is justified and has the purpose of correcting nutrient deficiencies, as well as the use of tools like DRIS (Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System), that help management practices to obtain high productivity. The objective of this work was evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization, irrigation and period of the year on the leaf nutrient contents of the yellow passionfruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) crop. The experiment was carried in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, on a Rhodic Paleudult, ammended with four nitrogen levels (50 to 650 g plant-1 year-1 of N) submitted to six irrigation depths (0 to 125% of ETo - reference crop evapotranspiration for grass). The nutrient leaf contents, at maximum fruit yield (41.3 t ha-1), ranged from 40.8 to 58.1 g kg-1 of N, 2.58 to 3.85 g kg-1 of P, 23.2 to 38 g kg-1 of K, 6.13 to 14.4 g kg-1 of Ca, 2.23 to 4.28 g kg-1 of Mg and 3.2 to 4.64 g kg-1 of S, 13.1 to 32.4 g kg-1 of Cl, 21.1 to 36.5 mg kg-1 of Zn, 44.4 to 94.5 mg kg-1 of Mn, 82 to 246 mg kg-1 of Fe, 16.8 to 48.9 mg kg-1 of B, 3.97 to 234 mg kg-1 of Cu. Nitrogen fertilization influenced leaf contents of N, K, S, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cl and B. Irrigation depth increased the leaf contents of Cl and Na and did not affect the other leaf nutrients