Portable meters for nutritional assessment in plants of gerbera fertigated with electrical conductivity levels

Abstract

A B S T R A C TRapid tests to assess the nutritional status of plants gerbera can make easier the decision of any adjustments in the fertilization of the substrate. The study was conducted to evaluate nutritionally fertigated gerbera plants with increasing levels of electrical conductivity (EC), using portable meters nitrate and potassium, and chlorophyll. For this, two experiments were conducted. A randomized block design with five levels of EC (0.5, 2.0, 3.5, 5.0 and 6.5 dS m -1 ) and four replications was used. Cherry cultivar was used in the first experiment. In the second experiment, two cultivars (Cherry and Salmon Rose) were used. In the first experiment, the sap of the leaves was subjected to rapid testing of N-NO 3 -(equipment Cardy Horiba C -141). N-NO 3 -and K + (C-131) were determined in the substrate solution. The intensity of the green leaf, in the second experiment was evaluated with portable Chlorophyll Meter. The N content in the indicator leaf in the first and N and K contents in the plant in the second experiment were determined. Rapid tests are presented as good indicators of the level of N-NO 3 -and K + in plant tissue, with the advantages of convenience and speed of determination, facilitating monitoring of fertilization of the substrate by producers and technicians.Medidores portáteis para avaliação nutricional em plantas de gérbera fertirrigada com níveis de condutividade elétrica R E S U M O Os testes rápidos para avaliação do estado nutricional de plantas de gérbera podem tornar mais fácil a decisão de eventuais ajustes na fertilização do substrato. O estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de se avaliar, nutricionalmente, plantas de gérbera fertirrigadas com níveis crescentes de condutividade elétrica (CE), utilizando-se medidores portáteis de nitrato e potássio, além de clorofilômetro. Para isto foram realizados dois experimentos. Utilizou-se um delineamento em blocos casualizados com cinco níveis de CE (0,5; 2,0; 3,5; 5,0 e 6,5 dS m -1

Response of gerbera inflorescences in function of electrical conductivity and pH solution in substrates

“…According to Mota et al (2014), pH values for Golden Yellow cultivar, throughout the crop cycle, were slightly higher than the Cherry cultivar, unlike the observed behavior for EC values, as they were low. The authors found that, the lower applied solution concentration, higher the pH, proving the positive inclusion of low EC on the development of plants.…”

“…This fact is related to lower pH, as well as the other treatments had higher pH and reduced EC. Ludwig et al (2014), Mota et al (2014), and Ludwig et al (2015) prove this fact. Means followed by the same letter in the column do not differ by Tukey's test at 5% significance level.…”

“…The salinity of organic composts may be high because these are obtained from a waste rich in nutrients (Hernández et al, 2010;Mota et al, 2014). Thus, it is necessary to take some precautions in such use (Caballero et al, 2009).…”

Doses de fósforo e uso de esterco bovino no cultivo de gérbera de vaso

“…Gerbera (Gerbera jamesoni) is commercially cultivated as a cut flower or in pots, and has high acceptance in the market of flowers and ornamental plants in Brazil, for presenting flowers with great diversity of colors, good durability and resistance to transportation (MOTA et al, 2014;LUDWIG et al, 2015;SANTOS et al, 2017). In the cultivation of potted gerbera, it is important to look for a high number of flower stems; inflorescences with large diameter; small size; and adequate leaf branching, to form a balanced set between the vegetative and reproductive part (LUDWIG et al, 2010).…”

“…An adequate fertilization, both mineral and organic, favors the production and quality of flowers and, with the expansion of the commercial production of flowers and ornamental plants in Brazil, there is a need for more studies on fertilization for this group of plants (LUDWIG et al, 2008;MOTA et al, 2014;SANTOS et al, 2015;SANTOS et al, 2017). In addition, in Brazil, it is common for farmers to manage fertilization empirically, supplying large amounts of nutrients, which are often not required by plants, without following agronomic criteria (LUDWIG et al, 2010;GUERRERO et al, 2013).…”