Effects of potassium application and soil moisture on the growth of Corymbia citriodora plants

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of potassium and soil moisture levels on the growth of Corymbia citriodora plants. Four doses of potassium were applied (0, 40, 80 and 120 mg.dm-3) and three soil moisture levels were established (50-80%, 65-80% and 80% of maximum soil field capacity). The experiment was a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments within a randomized complete design with six replications for each treatment and one pot with two plants for each plot. At 90 days after planting, the plant growth parameters: survival rate, height, stem diameter, leaf area, relative chlorophyll concentration, leaf dry mass, stem and branches dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass and leaf macronutrient contents were measured. High soil moisture content is necessary for Corymbia citriodora seedlings at nursery stage. Effects of the K doses were not observed in plants, even when they were cultivated in a soil with a low content of this nutrient.