Controlled-release potassium fertilizer in the banana crop (second cicle)

• Grant number: 11/23633-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Leandro José Grava de Godoy
• Grantee: Felipe Carvalho de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Registro. Registro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The region of the Registro, SP, Brazil, is the leading producer of bananas in the State of São Paulo, however, the average fruit yield is still low. One factor that may explain the low average fruit yield is the use of insufficient K fertilizer rates and K losses by leaching into the soil without an adequate replacement. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the feasibility of using controlled-release potassium fertilizers and define the best K rate for the banana crop cv. Galil 7. The experiment will be conducted for 12 months on the farm with the production of bananas, in the second cycle, in Registro-SP, Brazil. The experimental design will be a randomized block with five replicates and a factorial scheme 2 x 4, two management of potassium fertilizer (potassium chloride in four applications and controlled-release potassium chloride applied in only once), and four rates of K2O: 300, 600, 1200 and 1800 kg ha-1. In addition, will be installed plus a treatment without K fertilization. Will be evaluated characteristics of plant growth, nutritional status, fruit yield, and soil chemical properties, depending on the treatments.(AU)