Vegetative development and production of palm peach (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) under levels of irrigation and n fertilizer.

Author(s)

Adriana Ramos

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2002-10-25

Examining board members

Marcos Vinicius Folegatti; Marilene Leao Alves Bovi; Luís Fernando de Souza Magno Campeche; Fernando Braz Tangerino Hernandez; Vital Pedro da Silva Paz

• Advisor: Marcos Vinicius Folegatti; Marilene Leao Alves Bovi

Abstract

Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) plants were subjected to different irrigation and N fertilizer treatments in an experiment field conducted at the Irrigation and Drainage Area (22° 42'30"S and 47° 30"00"W) of Areão Agricultural Experiment Area, ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. The principal aim was to study the growth, development and yield of peach palm in the first plant yield cycle (April 2000 to February 2002), and also the spatial distribution of the root system. The irrigation (0%, 50%, 100% and 120% of ETo) and N fertilizer (0kg.ha -1 .year -1 , 200kg.ha -1 .year -1 and 400kg.ha -1 .year -1 ) treatments were grouped in randomized blocks resulting in a 3x4 factorial experiment. The water and N were applied through the use of a diaphragm-activated injection pump in a weekly basis. Plant parameters (as LAI obtained by the use of LAI 2000) were measured monthly to accompany the plant growth and development and the spatial distribution of the root system was evaluated by the use of a direct method (measuring by image analysis of the length and area of roots exposed by digging a soil-trench within the crop) and an indirect one (recording the moisture level differences between subsequent days). Significative differences among treatments were found in almost the total duration of the experiment. The water deficit treatments (0% and 50% of ETo) showed the lowest values of all parameters resulting in yield losses of 18% to 27%. On the other hand, the 100% of ETo treatment exhibited the highest ones, although the 120% of ETo treatment did not differ statistically from the former. Also, the 200kgN.ha -1 .year -1 and 400kgN.ha -1 .year -1 treatments did not differ statistically, showing the 200kgN.ha -1 .year -1 treatment the highest values. All parameters except offshoot number increased linearly with increasing water and except yield with increasing N. The root system in all treatments concentrated in the shallow layers of the soil with 97,8%, 92%, 86,7% and 97,8% of roots distributed until 40 cm depth. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 98/13229-4 - Vegetative development and production of palm peach (Bactris gasipaes Kunth.) under different levels of irrigation and N fertilizer
• Grantee: Adriana Ramos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate