Growth and Mineral Composition of soursop plant seedlings in response to doses of phosphorus

Abstract

This work aimed to analyse the effects of different doses of phosphorus on the growth and mineral composition of soursop plant seedlings (Annona muricata L.). It was performed in greenhouse. Red-Yellow clay-based soil was used as a substrate, wrapped in polypropylene containers with 7 dm3.  It was used a completely randomized block design with five replicates and six doses of phosphorus (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 mg dm-3 of P2O5).  The height, stem diameter, shoot, root and total dry matter yield of the plants, concentration and quantities of nutrients accumulated in the shoot of the plants were evaluated. The evaluated growth characteristics showed low growth rate when the plants received doses of P2O5 above 60 mg dm-3. The phosphate dosage that provided 90% of the maximum efficiency of utilization of phosphorus for the production of the aerial part of the dry matter was 64 mg dm-3 of P2O5, and the critical level of phosphorus in the aerial part with this dosage of phosphate was 1.48 g kg-1. The quantity of the nutrients accumulated in the aerial part of the seedlings was in decreasing order for the macronutrients N, K, Ca, P, S and Mg, and the micronutrients Mn, Zn, Fe, and Cu.