CRESCIMENTO, FLORESCIMENTO E TEORES FOLIARES DE NPK EM ALPÍNIA: INFLUÊNCIA DA ADUBAÇÃO E IRRIGAÇÃO

The influence of different fertilizers and irrigation management on shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) growth, flowering and NPK leaf contents were evaluated. The experiment was in randomized blocks with three replicates in a split-plot scheme. The plots corresponded to soil humidity limits of water replenishment [IRR1 - reduction of 75% of the total water retention capacity (CTA) and IRR2 - reduction of 50% of CTA] and the subplots to the fertilizers: cattle manure, poultry bed, filter cake, chemical and the non-fertilized control. The irrigation did not affect either shell ginger growth or leaf nutrient contents, evaluated at different times, except for the characteristic number of leaves per stem when evaluated at six months, as a function of the fertilizer used. At twelve months, plants fertilized with chemical fertilizer had the highest number of stems and leaves per plant, although, the same did not differ of those fertilized with cattle manure. The chemical fertilization and cattle manure resulted in highest N and K leaf contents, respectively, as at nine as twelve months. The P contents varied in function of fertilizers. The irrigation management and the fertilizers did not affect flowering.