Effects of phosphorus on micronutrient contents of rangpur lime, until transplanting time

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer on micronutrient contents of Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) growing in pots. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Escola Superior de Agricultura de Lavras, MG, Brazil. Seventeen treatments were used with six replications. The treatments were four phosphorus sources (ordinary superphosphate (OS); concentrate superphosphate (CS); phosphoric acid (PA) and rock phosphate (RP) each one used at four levels (0,08; 0,16; 0,32 and 1,28 mg of P₂O₅ ml of soil). Micronutrient contents (B, Cu, Mn and Zn) were determined on a dry matter basis, six months after sowing. It was verified that B was reduced when the P levels increased for all sources. Cu contents showed slight decrease for all sources when higher P rates were applied. The Mn and Zn contents showed a reduction trend when P was applied as OS, CS, and PA. However, they were increased when the P source applied in soil was the RP.