Greenhouse rose crop under different level of soil salinity and nitrogen:potassium fertilization ratios

Author(s)

Everaldo Moreira da Silva

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2013-04-16

Examining board members

Sergio Nascimento Duarte; Edivaldo Casarini; Francisco Edinaldo Pinto Mousinho; Paulo Hercílio Viegas Rodrigues

• Advisor: Sergio Nascimento Duarte

Abstract

The fertigation is a technique often used in the greenhouse rose crop by flower famers. Under greenhouse conditions the nutritional management is often more intense than under field conditions, as a result, the application of fertilizers is applied by fertigation. In the fertigation, nitrogen and potassium fertilization ratios are important parameters which determine yield and quality of the rose flowers. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of soil salinity, due to the excessive fertilizers application by fertigation, associated with different nitrogen-potassium ratios (N:K) on biometric and productive parameters of the greenhouse rose crop. The electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen and potassium levels in the soil solution were measured by TDR sensors during crop cycle. At the end of the crop cycle, macronutrients extractions in the stems, flower buds and flowers were measured. The experiment was carried out from 03/03/2012 to 11/03/2012 in the experimental field area of Department of Biosystems Engineering at \"Luiz de Queiroz\" College of Agriculture, in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The place are located in the latitude 22º 42\' south and longitude 47º 38\' west with 540 m of the altitude. The statistical design was a randomized complete block, organized in a factorial scheme (5 x 3 + 1), with four repetitions and 64 parcel in total. Each experimental unit was represented for each parcel with dimensions 0.40 m of width, 0.50 m of depth and 2 m of length. Treatments were a combination of five initial EC levels (EC: 1.2; 2.3; 3.3; 4.3 and 5.5 dS m-1) which were maintained constant during de rose crop and three nitrogen-potassium fertilization ratios (N:K - 2:1; 1:2 e 1:3), and one witness with N:K ratio of 1:1. The irrigation was realized by drip system and it was utilized a soil-water depletion factor of 0.3 to irrigation management. The soil moisture was measured by TDR sensors and tensiometer with pressure transducers. Soil salinity levels due to the fertilizers accumulation affected directly the variables: stem number, stem length; dry and fresh matter of the stems and flower buds. Flower bud diameter and leaf area index were not affected by the imposed treatments. Nitrogen-potassium ratios did not affect any evaluated parameter. N, K, P, Ca and Mg concentration in the tissues at 245 days after planting (DAT) were affected by imposed treatment. Biggest concentration were found in the leaves which nitrogen showed the highest concentration followed by potassium. TDR sensors allowed maintaining the salinity levels in the soil solution at the desired levels during crop cycle, and also the nitrogen (NO3-) and potassium concentrations (K+). Threshold salinity of soil for the culture of the rose was (2.52 dS m-1). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/07909-9 - Levels of soil salinity and nitrogen-potassium ratio for the cultivation of roses in greenhouse
• Grantee: Everaldo Moreira da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate