Fertilization with nitrogen and potassium in guava seedlings in a commercial nursery

Abstract

The fertilization takes key role at the production of fruit seedlings in order to ensure a good development and early production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen and potassium on the growth of guava seedlings. Herbaceous stakes of guava, "Paluma" cultivar, were rooted in a mist room, in polyethylene bags containing substrate. The experiment was conducted in a commercial nursery, in randomized blocks and a factorial scheme 4x4, with four doses of nitrogen (0, 552, 828 and 1104 mg dm-3) and four doses of potassium (0, 726, 1,089 and 1,452 mg dm-3) in three replications and three plants for parcel. During the filling of the bags (1,5 dm-3), were added 100 mg dm-3 of superphosphate, while fertilizers containing nitrogen and potassium were split into three times. After 120 days, the seedlings were evaluated. There was a significant effect of nitrogen in the variables height, stem diameter, number of leaves, SPAD index, dry weight of leaves, stems, total, Dickson quality index, and nitrogen accumulation. The fertilization with potassium did not influence the biometric parameters, SPAD index and Dickson quality index.