LEAF-MACRONUTRIENT STATUS AND FRUIT YIELD OF BIOFERTILIZED YELLOW PASSION FRUIT PLANTS |
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Authors: | Lourival Ferreira Cavalcante Ítalo Herbert Lucena Cavalcante Francisco Rodolfo Júnior Márkilla Zunete Beckmann-Cavalcante Gaudêncio Pereira dos Santos |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Soil Science and Rural Engineering , Federal University of Paraiba , Areia , Brazil;2. National Institute of Salinity Science and Technology (INCTSal) , Fortaleza , Brazil;3. Department of Agronomy , Federal University of Piaui , Campus Profa Cinobelina Elvas, Bom Jesus , Brazil;4. Soil and Water Management , Federal University of Paraiba , Areia , Brazil |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | alternative fertilizer biofertilizer plant nutrition Passiflora edulis |
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