Resumen

MEZA, N  y  PIRE, R. Mineral nutrition assessment in young sapodilla (Manilkara achras Miller Fosberg) trees growing on containers. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2008, vol.25, n.3, pp.496-506. ISSN 0378-7818.

In the tropics, the mineral nutrition of young fruit plants study is important due to the fast initial growth. With the purpose of knowing aspects of mineral nutrition of sapodilla plants, the concentrations of the main macro and micronutrients on leaves, stems and roots of one and two-year old plants grown in containers was determined. A split plot design with factorial arrangement of treatments (2 ages x 3 organs) and six replicates was used with the exception of calcium; one-year old plants had significantly higher foliar concentrations than the two years old plants. In case of stem and root, the nutrient concentrations showed similar behavior to those of leaves even though differences were greater for potassium and calcium. In general, foliar concentrations were in the range of sufficiency. Leaf was the plant organ that accumulated the higher levels of nitrogen and calcium, the stem showed the highest level of phosphorus, while the rest of the nutrients were mainly stored in root. Regardless of the plant tissue, the most absorbed macronutrients were Ca, P and N, leaving Mg and P in the lower levels. The most absorbed micronutrient was Fe followed by Zn and to a lesser extent by Mn and C. It is concluded that there is a considerable variation of nutrient levels concentration according to plant age and the analyzed tissue.

Palabras clave : Sapodilla; mineral nutrition; nutrients; tissue analysis.