Effect of phosphorus on the initial development of feijoa seedlings

Abstract

The effect of phosphate fertilization on the initial development of feijoa (Feyoa sellowiana Berg.) seedlings was studied in a pot experiment with a Red Yellow Podzolk soil having 4 ppm of extractable phosporous by the Mehlich method. Levels of phosphorous of 0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm together with 150 ppm of K were applied as a basal dressing. In three equal portions 150 ppm of N were applied at 7, 27 and 42 days after the transplant of the seedlings. Seedlings of native plants, with 30 days approximately, were transplanted to pots and cultivated during 89 days. There was a significant effect of phosphorous on all analised variables. Plant height showed the behaviour of the classic growth curve, but the increments obtained at each evaluation increased with the levels of P. Root dry matter, aerial parts, as well as the extracted quantities of N, P and K increased linearly with the P levels. The concentration of P in the tissue increased up to the level of 50 ppm, remaining stable for the higher P levels, those of N and P decreased for the levels above 50 ppm of P. Results obtained permit to verify the high requirement of this species in relation to phosphorous, in the initial growth period.