Growth and nutrients extraction by a crop of ginger (Zingeber officinalis Rosae, var. Brasil)

Abstract

From a well managed plantation situated in Caraguatatuba on the coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, plants were collected from two months after the emergence to the final stage of maturity at 30 days intervals. The plants were separated into leaves, "stems", flowers and rhizomes. Plant materia] was washed, dried and analyzed by laboratory conventional methods for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. The authors concluded that: a) ginger plants present a continuous growth; b) macronutrients were accumulated in the following decreasing order: N, K, Ca, Mg, S and P, while the order for micronutrients was: Fe, Mn, Zn, B and Cu; c) rhizomes exported 15.3% of the total nutrients content of the plantation.