Nutritional assessment of cedar seedlings (Cedrela fissilis; Vell.) grown in a greenhouse

Abstract

This work hat the objective of investigate the nutritional requirements of Cedar (Cedrela fissilis) species. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse to assess effects of complete fertilization and of fertilization with missing nutrients on seedling development. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments and 5 replications in a complete randomized block design. Vases with a capacity for5 kg of soil were used, with one plant unit per vase and a red-yellow latosol substratum of poor fertility, applying the following treatments: one complete treatment with N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B and Zn; eight treatments, each with one missing nutrient (-N, -P, -K, -Ca, -Mg, -S, -B and -Zn), and one control treatment with natural substratum. It was assessed shoot height, stem base diameter and dry matter yield at 110 days after planting. Results demonstrated that N and P are the most limiting nutrients for the development of the species. Considering these limitations and defining shoot dry matter yield in the complete treatment as a parameter, the nutrient requirements of cedar seedlings were as follows, in decreasing order: P > N > K > B > S > Ca > Zn > Mg.