Visual symptoms, growth and nutrients of Alpinia purpurata plants exposed to N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S deficiencies

Aim of this study was to evaluate effects induced by nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur deficiencies on visual symptoms and growth and nutrient levels in Alpinia purpurata plants (cv. Jungle King). Experimental design was entirely randomized with 7 treatments (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S deficiencies and control) and 5 replicates. Qualitative parameters measured were visual symptoms and quantitative parameters dry matter of leaves, stem, shoot and root and total dry matter, as well as macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) in leaves and whole plant. Symptoms linked to nitrogen deficiency were shown in evaluation carried out in 90 th day after treatment implementation with old leaves presenting symptoms such as yellow-green leaf colour. Leaf, stem, shoot, root and total dry matter was affected by nutrient deficit, potassium being probably more limiting. Nutrient levels in leaves of control and deficient treatments were 25.1 and 17.6 g kg -1 for nitrogen, 5.1 and 1.4 g kg -1 for phosphorus, 36.1 and 16.2 g kg -1 for potassium, 5.9 and 1.0 g kg -1 for calcium, 5.6 and 1.3 g kg -1 for magnesium and 4.1 and 1.8 g kg -1 to sulphur, respectively. Deficiencies also limited nutrient levels in whole plant, compared with control. Results obtained in this study reveal that potassium and magnesium were nutrients that presented first symptoms after calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur.