LEAF-MACRONUTRIENT STATUS AND FRUIT YIELD OF BIOFERTILIZED YELLOW PASSION FRUIT PLANTS

Biofertilizers instead of synthetic chemicals are known to improve plant growth through the supply of plant nutrients and they may help sustaining environmental health and soil productivity. An experiment was carried out to evaluate fruit yield and macronutrient foliar contents of yellow passion fruit plants (Passiflora edulis) as a function of biofertilizers and nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) fertilizing in Brazil (2005–2007). The experimental design was randomized in blocks with treatments, which were distributed in a factorial arrangement (3 × 2) referring to biofertilizer application without biofertilizer, simple biofertilizer and enriched biofertilizer] and mineral fertilizing with NPK (fertilized and non-fertilized), with three replications of nine plants. Nutritional status of yellow passion fruit is affected by biofertilizer. Simple biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of phosphorus, calcium and sulfur, while enriched biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and sulfur. Both biofertilizers stimulated fruit yield, with results above Brazilian average.