Response of tomato to polyhalite as a multi-nutrient fertilizer in southeast Brazil |
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| Authors: | Simone da Costa Mello Rachel Tonhati Dourado Durval Neto Murali Darapuneni |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Crop Science Department, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil;2. Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Tucumcari, NM, USA |
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| Abstract: | AbstractLimited information on the agronomic performance of polyhalite (K2SO4.MgSO4.2CaSO4.2H2O) motivated us to establish two field trials in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate the comparative responses of tomato to muriate of potash (MOP), sulfate of potash, potassium magnesium sulfate, and polyhalite at different graded doses of potassium (K) application supplying varied amount of secondary nutrients. Under very low soil K conditions, polyhalite resulted in significantly higher marketable fruit yield, and higher foliar and fruit K and sulfur (S) concentrations than other K sources. This was not the case under medium soil K levels, that is, 101?mg?kg?1. Likewise, polyhalite enhanced postharvest residual soil calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and S than other evaluated sources. Depending on soil nutrient status and the cost of polyhalite, tomato farmers of Brazil could consider polyhalite as an option to meet crop K and secondary nutrient requirements. |
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| Keywords: | calcium magnesium polyhalite potassium sulfur tomato MOP |
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