Liming on growth and development of star fruit trees

Abstract

The main production areas of star fruit are located in regions which are characterized by soil acidity and low base saturation, which limits the normal development of plants, reflecting the production. Thus, the effects of increasing doses of lime to the soil on the diameter of the trunk, the volume of the crown and the height of star fruit trees were evaluated. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station of Citrus Culture of Bebedouro, São Paulo, in a Red Latosol dystrophic (V = 26% in the layer of 0-20 cm) from August/1999 to July/2006. The doses of lime applied were: zero, 1.85, 3.71, 5.56 and 7.41 ha t^-1. We performed chemical analyses of soil in order to determine fertility and evaluations of biometric variables, such as diameter of the trunk, the height and the volume of the crown of star fruit trees, for five agricultural years. The results showed that there was positive correlation between the neutralization of acidity, concentration of calcium, magnesium and base saturation of soil and the variables of biometric star fruit trees throughout the trial period.