Doses crescentes de fertilizante de liberação gradual na produção de mudas de cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.)

Abstract

With the objetive of evaluating the effect of growing doses of slow-realising fertilizer upon coffee seedlings production in containers, an experiment was conducted of the Universidade Federal de Lavras-UFLA Coffee culture Sector. The commercial mixture made up of vermiculite and ground pinus bark, composed and enriched was used as a substrate. The substrate fertilization was done by adding the slow- releasing fertilizer, formulation of 15-10-10 of N-P-K + micronutrients, at the doses of zero (check), 150, 300, 450 and 600 g of the fertilizer per 55 liters of the substrate. The experimental design utilized was that of randomized blocks with four replications. The plots consisted of twenty stiff plastic conteiners, with volumetric capacity of 120 ml, considering as the useful area, the eight central containers. In the evaluation, the following characteristics were considered: number of pairs of true leaves, stem diameter, plant height, leaf area and root system and aerial part dry matters. The results showed the most suitable dosage ranges with the characteristic considered from 386 to 683 g per 55 liters of substrate.