MACRONUTRIENT DEMAND IN ADULT MACAÚBA PLANTS

Nutritional Demand (LB) is expressed by the sum of the content of nutrients absorbed by the different plant compartments of a plant. The ND  is generally one of the main variables of great utility to determine the fertilization recommendation. However, the recommendations for Macaúba are often carried out empirically without knowing the real nutritional demand of the plant. Thus, it is necessary to know the amount of nutrients removed by the fruit during the harvesting process, in addition to the amounts absorbed that are directed to the formation and maintenance of the different compartments of the plant. Therefore, this trial aimed to determine the macronutrient ND for 14.7-year-old Macaúba plants. To this end, a plant was thinned in the experimental area of DAA-UFV, municipality of Araponga-MG. And the plant was divided into different compartments (crown, stem, bunches, fruits and roots) to measure fresh matter. Then the samples were left to dry in a forced air circulation oven at 65 ºC until constant weight. They were then weighed and ground to determine the dry matter masses of the different compartments. Thus, the total nutrient contents in the compartments and their respective contents were determined. Finally, the determination of the plant macronutrient DN and descriptive analysis of the data were performed. From there, it is concluded that the macronutrients most demanded by the plant aged 14.7 years follow the sequence S > Ca > K > Mg > P > N