Agricultural Engineering: Use of Fertigation and Macronutrient Content in Pepper Plant

7/15/2016 Fertigation application and macronutrients Concentrations in plant of bell pepper

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Eng. Agríc. vol.25 no.3 Jaboticabal Sept./Dec. 2005 Portuguese (pdf)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S010069162005000300009 Portuguese (EPDF)
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Francisco FN Marcussi
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Agronomist, M.Sc., PhD in Hydraulic Engineering and Sanitation, Av more
sãocarlense worker, 400, EESC / USP, Department of Hydraulics and
Sanitation, San Carlos. SP, marcussi@sc.usp.br Permalink
SUMMARY
This study aimed to determine the levels of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) in different organs Elisa chili
hybrid under fertigation and protected environment through plant collections during the cycle. At the end of the
experiment, there were obtained the concentrations of macronutrients in the fruit, leaf, stem, root and the plant
as a whole in each growth step. Fertilization in the study cycle, 140 days was made via localized irrigation
(drip). The experiment was conducted in the Department of Natural Resources Soil Science, FCAUNESP,
Botucatu SP, and consisted of eight treatments (plant collection times: 0; 20; 40; 60; 80; 100; 120 and 140
days after transplanting) and four repetitions, each repetition consists of four plants. The results show that the
levels of macronutrients found in chilli plant follow, on average, the following descending order: K (39.9 g kg 1
)> N (28.3 g kg 1 )> Ca (12.8 g kg 1 )> Mg (5.9 g kg 1 )> S (4.1 g kg 1 )> P (3.7 g kg 1 ).
Keywords: drip, macronutrient concentrations, Capsicum annuum L.
ABSTRACT
In this study, it Aimed was the determination of macronutrients contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) in different
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organs of the hybrid of bell pepper Elisa, under fertigation and protected atmosphere, through eight times of
plant extraction. At the end of the experiment it was Obtained the contents of macronutrients in the fruit, leaf,
stem and root and in the plant as a whole, in each growth stage. The fertilization in the Studied cycle, 140 days,
was done through localized fertigation (drip system). The experiment was developed in the Department of
Natural Resources Soil Science, FCAUNESP, Botucatu SP, Brazil. The experiment consisted of eight
treatments (time of extraction plant: 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 days after the transplant of the
seedlings) and four repetitions, each repetition being formed by four plants. The macronutrients contents found
in the plant have The Following decreasing order: K (39, 9 g kg 1 )> N (28,3g kg 1 )> Ca (12, 8 g kg 1 )> Mg
(5, 9 g kg 1 )> S (4, 1 g kg 1 )> P (3, 7 g kg 1 ).
Keywords: drip irrigation, macronutrients concentration, Capsicum annuum L.
INTRODUCTION
The fertilizer management in irrigated agriculture, along with the knowledge of nutrient demands during the
crop cycle contribute to fertilization efficiency. In some countries, like the United States, Israel and Italy,
fertigation has become a widely used technique, especially with the development of modern irrigation systems
and the quality of liquid fertilizers. With the spread of new technologies in irrigation, the introduction of liquid
fertilizer on the market, the rising cost of hand labor, the need to increase the efficiency of use of inputs and
implement the productivity of agricultural production systems, especially in areas savannah and tropical semi
arid, open great prospects for the use of this technology (COELHO, 1994).
One of the most important advantages of fertigation is related to nutrient uptake efficiency by the plant, this
because it offers the plant nutrient readily available in the soil solution to be absorbed, causing increasing need
for evaluation of parameters of the nutritional status of the plant to correct any deficiencies or toxicities.
Frizzone et al. (1994) also cite fertigation as the best tool to maintain an adequate level of nutrients in the soil
solution and, consequently, a good plant nutrition.
The pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) stands out among the Solanaceae, to be consumed in large quantities, as
well as having economic importance in Brazil and abroad, mainly in the United States, Mexico, Italy, Japan and
India (SILVA, 1998 ), and therefore the technology used in the production of pepper increasingly refined,
seeking to reduce costs and increase productivity, and the use of fertigation can contribute to the pursuit of
these goals. RABBIT (1994) mentions that not only the knowledge of the behavior of soil macronutrients in
relation to their mobility, but also the nutritional requirement of a culture during their cycle are important
factors to consider in the management of fertilizers in fertigation. According to Malavolta (1993), the interest in
knowing the nutrient content is coupled to the evaluation of nutritional status by the variation in the composition
of representative bodies. Knowledge of the nutritional requirement and the concentration of nutrients through
representative bodies in plants is important to establish the amounts of nutrients to be applied by means of
fertilizers, thus getting better yields.
The nutrient content in plants varies according to their development, being distinguished with flowering,
formation and growth of the fruit. Correction of soil and fertilizer vegetables are often made with doses higher
than recommended, with more concern to avoid deficiencies; in doing so, it incurs in the risk of harmful
excesses, in addition to waste. Therefore, it is important to know the macronutrient content of the plant, how to
assess their respective nutritional status and the right time to apply these nutrients, according to their
respective stages of development (Raij, 1993).
The response curves of the cultures may be different not only between vegetative and reproductive organs, but
also between the components of the harvested production (Marschner, 1995). This fact leads to the knowledge
of the importance of the nutrient concentration in each organ of the plant, so as to obtain parameters for
evaluation. GUPTA (2001) emphasizes the importance of sampling the appropriate part of the plant and the
growth stage for the assessment of nutritional status.
Neither the appearance of the culture or the available visual evidence may lead to a reliable diagnosis to
identify deficiency or excess of nutrients (MAGALHÃES, 1988). In such cases, the chemical analysis of plant
tissue becomes the recommended procedure for comparison with critical values of concentrations of the
macronutrients. Note, therefore, that the concentration of nutrients by the plant provides important information
for the understanding of nutrient ratios to be applied during fertigation.
In chili, there are few studies about the macronutrients concentrations in plant to assess its deficiency or
sufficiency. These studies are useful in assessing the nutritional status: this because the greater the capacity of
the plant to accumulate a nutrient, the greater the differences in the concentration of this nutrient in response to
fertilization variable rates.
In this work, we had to in order to determine the levels of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) in different
organs Elisa chili hybrid under fertigation in protected environment through plant collections during cycle. At the
end of the experiment, there were obtained the concentrations of macronutrients in the fruit, leaf, stem, root
and the plant as a whole in each growth step, fetching data for comparison tissue nutrient analysis, in order to
better manage fertigation for pepper plant.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted in plastic tunnel with 7 m wide, 20 m long and 2.5 m high, in the Department of
Natural Resources / Soil Science, belonging to the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences UNESP, Botucatu SP
(22º51'S, 48º26'W and 786 m asl).
The vessels that received the seedlings were filled with 29 L of Ferralsol, sandy texture, whose chemical
characteristics at the time of transplanting, are shown in Table 1 .
To simulate an irrigation system located for each vessel was adapted with a PET type flask of 2 L, which has
been hung upside down, the top and (bottom of the bottle) cut to allow placing the water and also the solution
containing the fertilizers. The lower end (cover) was perforated, and placed a hose, whose end had a dripper
that controlled the flow. The experimental design was a randomized block consisting of eight periods
(treatment) plant samples (Elisa chili hybrid): zero time (changes of stage, at the time of transplanting); 20;
40; 60; 80; 100; 120 and 140 days after transplanting the seedling and four replications (four plants in each
repetition). To reduce the problems of genetic variation of the studied material, each pot containing two plants,
each plot comprising two vessels and thus each repeat comprises four plants, totaling in the experiment, 56
pots containing two plants each.
After transplantation, the cultivation was performed according to the need of plants and the desbrotas
performed after the emergence of side branches. The sprayings were carried out according to the technical
specifications and the application of water via drip irrigation was performed daily, according to the needs of the
plants through a tank Class A and Kc culture.
The first application of fertigation was taken 54 days after the transplantation, once through diagnosis, it was
identified that the basic fertilization (especially using organic compound) was providing nutrients appropriate to
the plants, and the frequency fertigation was three days, totaling 29 applications. In total, 5,951 g of nitrogen
applied; 3,835 g of potassium, and 5.776 g of calcium per plant. The first to third application, applied only N and
Ca, using 1.9 g pipe 3 per plant per application, diluted with 250 mL of water. Then, after the fourth application,
it started applying K and nitrogen was increased dosage, adding 0.82 g of KNO 3 per plant per application,
diluted with 250 mL of water. They became boron applications (0.299 mg) and manganese (0.264 mg), using
borax and manganese sulfate respectively.
Every 20 days, the bell pepper plants were collected and separated into root, stem, leaf and fruit. Subsequently,
the material was washed with distilled water to oven drying (65 ° C), crushed and chemically analyzed
according to the methodology mentioned by BATAGLIA (1991). In the chemical analysis, it was determined the
concentration of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) in each organ of the plant, and the results were
submitted to analysis of variance with F test and means were compared by Tukey test , a 5% probability.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In Tables 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 are presented the results of macronutrient concentrations in fruit, leaf, stem, root
and whole plant, respectively. Macronutrients obtained highest concentration at 60 days after transplanting
(DAT) when the plant had only fruits training and no commercial fruit, or for the pepper plant, macronutrients
tends to be inversely related to fruit growth .
The macronutrient with the highest concentration in the fruit ( Table 2 ), was the match with an average of 33.3
g kg 1 dry matter during the period 60140 DAT, followed by nitrogen, averaging 33.2 g kg 1 . The calcium,
phosphorus, sulfur and magnesium were obtained, respectively, average concentrations of 5.1; 4.5; 3.9 to 3.3 g
kg 1 . With these results, it appears that on average 60 to 140 DAT , the potassium accounted for 39.94% of
the total macronutrient concentration in the fruit of pepper plant, followed by nitrogen with 39.88% Calcium 6
07% match with 5.39% sulfur and 4.70% to 4.01% and magnesium. FURLANI et al. (1978), using a variety
Monica, they found the following macronutrient result in chili: 21.8 g kg 1 N; 4.1 g kg 1 P; 9.8 g kg 1 K; 1.1 g
kg 1 of Ca; 1.2 g kg 1 of Mg, and 2.5 g kg 1 S. MALAVOLTA et al. (1997) say that among the main nutrients
linked to increased productivity, K is on average the second most abundant element in plant dry matter when
considering the essential macronutrients. According to Marschner (1995), fruit growth involves not only the
diversion of assimilates and minerals for the development of this organ, but also the remobilization of nutrients
from other plant tissues.
Regarding the initial collection, at 60 DAT, it is observed that at 80 DAT, nitrogen lost 43% of its concentration
in the fruit, and calcium is the nutrient that lost more concentration, reaching the 80 DAT with only 22 % of the
concentration obtained at 60 DAT; this time of great loss of macronutrients by the fruit due to the large amount
of fruit in the harvest point, reiterating that more developed fruits have lower concentration of macronutrients
in relation to young fruits. The highest concentration of macronutrients in the fruit of the pepper plant occurred
at 60 DAT. ON, Ca, Mg and S differ significantly in the periods analyzed. It is noteworthy that, throughout the
study period (140 days), the plants did not show nutritional deficiency or other problems that could affect the
availability of plant nutrients, since the fertilization was done through localized fertigation, providing, therefore,
nutrients readily to the soil solution to be absorbed.
In leaf pepper plant, among macronutrients, potassium was what appeared with the highest concentration in the
whole cycle of culture studied, averaging 50.5 g kg 1 dry matter ( Table 3 ), from transplanting to DAT 140,
followed by nitrogen, averaging 37.7 g kg 1 , calcium with 24.0 g kg 1 , magnesium 9.6 g kg 1 , sulfur 4.8 g
kg 1 and phosphorus with 4.4 g kg 1 . However, potassium appeared in higher concentrations to 20; 40 and 60
DAT nitrogen at 40 and 140 DAT, phosphorus and sulfur at the time of transplantation (time 0), the calcium and
magnesium DAT 120 to 100 and 120 DAT. The results show that, on average, from transplanting to 140 DAT,
potassium accounted for 38.60% of the total macronutrient concentration in pepper plant leaf, followed by
nitrogen with 28.76% to 18.33% calcium, magnesium with 7.29% sulfur and 3.69% and the match with 3.32%.
It is observed that the nitrogen obtained the highest concentration in the sheet at 40 DAT, representing 54%
increase in its concentration with respect to time 0 (at transplanting seedlings). Note that phosphorus was the
only nutrient big difference obtained at time 0 (15.5 g kg 1 ) with respect to the lowest concentration found,
which was at 80 DAT (1.4 g kg 1 ), or , phosphorus in leaf lost 90.97% of its concentration to 80 DAT, taking as
a basis the time 0. According BIRTH JUNIOR (1998), macronutrient content in the chili plant leaf (cultivar
Magali), to 67 DAT are in g kg 1 : 50.6 N; 40,2 K; 6.8 18.8 Ca and Mg.
In the stem of the pepper plant, the macronutrient that appeared in higher concentrations was the potassium
throughout the cycle studied culture, averaging 41.7 g kg 1 dry matter ( Table 4 ), from transplanting to 140
DAT, followed by nitrogen, averaging 18.3 g kg 1 , calcium with 9.3 g kg 1 , magnesium with 5.6 g kg 1 ,
sulfur and 4.1 g kg 1 and match with 2, 4 g kg 1 . The results show that, on average, from transplanting to 140
DAT, potassium contributed 51.26% of the total macronutrient concentration in chili plant stem, followed by
nitrogen with 22.50%, with 11.40% calcium, magnesium with 6.90% sulfur and 5.01% phosphorus and 2.91%
with. It is observed that the nitrogen obtained the highest concentration in the stem, to 20 DAT, representing
54% increase in its concentration with respect to time 0 (at transplanting seedlings). Note that phosphorus in
the stem, and the sheet was the only nutrient big difference obtained at time 0 (6.7 g kg 1 ) with respect to the
lowest concentration found, which was at 80 DAT (0, 8 g kg 1 ), ie, phosphorus, stem, lost 88.06% of its
concentration to 80 DAT, taking as base time 0.
The results of Table 5 show that the macronutrient achieved the highest concentration in the pepper plant root
was nitrogen throughout the cycle studied the culture with an average of 23.0 g kg 1 of dry matter, from
transplanting to DAT 140, closely followed by potassium, averaging 22.9 g kg 1 , calcium with 7.8 g kg 1 ,
magnesium with 3.6 g kg 1 , sulfur and 3.1 g kg 1 and phosphorus 2.7 g kg 1 . It is observed that, on
average, from transplanting to 140 DAT, nitrogen contributed 36.51% of the total macronutrient concentration in
chilli plant root, closely followed by potassium with 36.36%, calcium with 12.33 % magnesium with 5.66%
sulfur and 4.89% and the match with 4.25%. It is observed that the nitrogen obtained the highest concentration
in the root to 20 DAT, representing 40% increase in its concentration with respect to time 0 (at transplanting
seedlings). Note that the match in the root, and stem and leaf was the only nutrient big difference obtained at
time 0 (7.6 g kg 1 ) with respect to the lowest concentration found, which was at 60 DAT (1.1 g kg 1 ), or
phosphorus in the stem, lost 86.84% of its concentration at 60 DAT, taking as a basis the time 0.
With the results shown in Table 6 , it is observed that the macronutrient achieved the highest concentration in
the pepper plant, throughout the cycle culture studied was potassium, averaging 39.9 g kg 1 of dry matter,
transplanting to 140 DAT, followed by nitrogen, averaging 28,3g kg 1 , calcium with 12.8 g kg 1 , magnesium
5.9 g kg 1 , sulfur and 4.1 g kg 1 and match with 3.7 g kg 1 . Is Note, the results ( Figure 1 ) which, on
average, from transplanting to 140 DAT, potassium accounted for 42.17% of the total macronutrient
concentration in pepper plant as a whole, followed by nitrogen with 29.89 % calcium with 13.47% magnesium
with 6.23% sulfur and 4.28% and the match with 3.96%. SANTOS (2001) found the following macronutrient
concentrations chili plant (hybrid Elisa) at 84 DAT, fertigated in g kg 1 : 38.3 N; 1.9 P; 47,6 K; 19.4 Ca; 6.9 Mg
and 3.6 S. The same author found for other hybrids (Magali R) at 84 DAT, the following macronutrient
concentrations chili plant in g kg 1 : 35.4 of N; 1.8 P; 42,9 K; 21.4 Ca; 6.2 Mg and 3.4 S.
It is observed in this experiment, we obtained higher nitrogen concentration in the plant, which represented a
52% increase more in concentration at 40 DAT with respect to time 0. It was observed that the phosphorus in
plant chili as well as in the root, stem and leaf, was the only nutrient significant difference obtained at time 0
(10.7 g kg 1 ) with respect to the lowest concentration found, which was at 80 DAT (1.6g kg 1 ), or
phosphorus, in pepper plant, lost 85.05% of its concentration at 80 DAT, taking as a basis the time 0. in Figure 1
, shows the percentage composition of the plant macronutrients chili over the cycle, depending on the collection
intervals, nitrogen concentration of increase was noticed in the analysis and decrease potassium period.
The results allow better monitoring of the nutritional status of chili plant, aiming at proper management of the
application of irrigation water via fertilizers. According GUPTA (2001), the greater the capacity of the plant to
accumulate a nutrient, the greater the differences in the concentration of this nutrient in response to fertilization
variable rates; parts of the plants that accumulated the highest amounts of nutrients during active metabolic
stage of growth are generally the most suitable for sampling with a view to determining the nutritional status of
the crop. According to the data obtained in this experiment under fertigation, chili plant leaf confirmed that the
body that best fits those terms. However, there is a need for more studies that show not only the appropriate
nutrient levels for the leaf, but also how to collect these sheets, which plant leaves collect and what better time
of collection according to the culture of driving system . TRANI & Raij (1996) recommend achieving monitoring
the nutritional status of the plants by leaf analysis to check the level of nutrients in the plant.
CONCLUSIONS
It was the following order of macronutrient concentration in the stem, leaf and whole chili plant (hybrid Elisa)
under fertigation: K> N> Ca> Mg> S> P; since the concentration of macronutrients in the root follows the
following order: N> K> Ca> Mg> S> P; the fruit, the order of macronutrients was: K> N> Ca> P> S>.
The body of the chili plant that has the largest concentration of macronutrients under fertigation is the sheet,
and therefore the body recommended for macronutrient content analysis, to verify deficiency as in toxicity.
THANKS
In the Support Foundation of São Paulo (FAPESP) for the financial support; the teacher Roberto Lyra Villas Boas,
for guidance, and the staff of the Department of Natural Resources Soil Science, which contributed to the
execution of the work.
REFERENCES
BATAGLIA, OC Chemical analysis of plants . In: FERREIRA, ME; CRUZ, MCP (Eds.). Macronutrients in agriculture.
Piracicaba: POTAFOS / CNPq, 1991. p.289308. [ Links ]
RABBIT, AM Fertigation. In: COSTA, EF; VIEIRA, RF; VIANA, PA (Eds.). Chemigation. Brasília: EMBRAPASPI,
1994. p.20128. [ Links ]
Frizzone, JA; BOTREL, MT; GOLDEN NETO, D. Application of irrigation water via fertilizers. Piracicaba: Escola
Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", USP, 1994. 35 p. (Educational Series, 8). [ Links ]
Furlani, AMC; FURLANI, PR; BATAGLIA, OC; Hiroce R .; GALLO, JR; BERNARDI, JB; FORNASIER, JB; CAMPOS, HR
mineral composition of various vegetables. Bragantia, Campinas, v.37, n.1, p.3344, 1978. [ Links ]
GUPTA, UC Macronutrients and toxic elements in plants and animals . In: FERREIRA, ME; CRUZ, MCP; Raij, B.
van; ABREU, CA (Eds.). Micronutrients and toxic elements in agriculture. Jaboticabal: POTAFOS / CNPq /
FAPESP, 2001. p.1341. [ Links ]
MAGALHÃES, JR Diagnosis of nutritional disorders in vegetables. Brasília: EMBRAPA / DPU, 1988. 64 p.
(Document 1). [ Links ]
Malavolta, E. elements of plant nutrition. São Paulo: Agronomic Ceres, 1993. 251 p. [ Links ]
MALAVOLTA, E .; VITTI, GC; OLIVEIRA, SA Nutritional status of plants : principles and applications . 2.ed.
Piracicaba: POTAFOS, 1997. 319 p. [ Links ]
Marschner, H. Mineral nutrition of higher plants . 2 nd ed. New York: Academic Press, 1995. 889 p. [
Links ]
BIRTH JUNIOR IN N Effect of application of K and via drip irrigation water in the bell pepper crop in a protected
environment . 1998. 92 f. Dissertation (Master of Irrigation and Drainage) Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,
Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, 1998. [ Links ]
Raij, BV Principles correction and fertilizer for plants and for commercial production. In: Symposium on nutrition
and fertilization of vegetables, 1, 1990 Jaboticabal . Anais ... Piracicaba: POTAFOS, 1993. p.7584. [ Links
]
SANTOS, RF Hybrids pepper grown in a protected environment and conventional fertirrigated with N + K doses,
and evaluating the distribution of evaporation. 2001. 165 f. Thesis (PhD in Irrigation and Drainage) Faculty of
Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, 2001. [ Links ]
SILVA, MAG Effect of nitrogen and potassium in chili production and nutrition in a protected environment. 1998.
86 f. Thesis (Doctorate in Soils and Mineral Nutrition of Plants) School of Agriculture "Luiz de Queiroz",
University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 1998. [ Links ]
TRANI, PE; Raij, BV Vegetables. In: Raij BV; Cantarella, H .; QUAGGIO, JA; Furlani, AMC recommended
fertilization and liming for the state of São Paulo. São Paulo:. Foundation IAC, 1996. p.15585 [ Links ]
Received by the Editorial Board on: 04/06/2003
Approved by the Council on: 25.08.2005
DRIVEN by FAPESP.
All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise Noted, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License
Rural Engineering Department FCAV / UNESP
Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, km 5
14884.900 Jaboticabal SP Brazil
Tel./Fax: +55 16 3203 3341 sbea@sbea.org.br

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