Growth and mineral nutrition in Annona crassiflora Mart. seedlings subjected to nutrient deprivation

Abstract

The Brazilian Cerrado is rich in tree species, which are used for various purposes, besides the traditional use of wood for timber, especially for charcoal production. Annona crassiflora Mart. is a multiple uses species native from the Cerrado dominium whose fruits are the main source of income among its products. The most native species in Brazil, little or nothing is known about their silvicultural aspects, mainly about their nutritional requirements. This work aimed at investigating the nutritional requirements and effects of the absence of nutrients in the development of Annona crassiflora Mart. An experiment was conducted in vases, with low fertility red-yellow Oxisol. Twelve treatments were set under the technique of the missing nutrient in a completely randomized block design with eight repetitions. We applied the following treatments: complete 1 (fertilized with N, P, K, S, B, Cu, Fe, Zn and lime), complete 2 (fertilized with N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Fe, Zn, without lime), complete treatments omitting a relevant nutrients when appropriate (-N, -P, -K, -S, -B, -Zn, -lime, -Ca, -Mg) and control. The plants were harvested and separated into shoot and root system. Samples were dried at 70°C, weighed, and the levels of nutrients were determined in the shoot dry matter. According to the results, the most limiting nutrient for the A. crasssiflora seedlings growth in descending order were: P > Ca > Zn > K > B > Mg > N > S, and the omission of nitrogen and sulfur does not affect the growth of the seedlings. We also found that liming increases the development of A. crasssiflora seedlings.