Initial growth of yellow passion fruit seedlings as a function of increasing simple superphosphate levels

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth of yellow passion fruit seedlings in response to increasing simple superphosphate levels. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions in the campus of the West Parana State University - UNIOESTE, at the municipality of Marechal Cândido Rondon. A completely randomized design was used with five replications and five treatments, composed by the following simple superphosphate levels: 0; 0.28; 0.56; 1.11 and 2.78 kg m^-3. At each 7-days interval, until 52 days after plant emergency, measurements of plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, leaf area and shoot and root dry matter accumulation were performed. The application of simple superphosphate promoted linear increase in all evaluated variables. The results showed that there was a significant response of the specie to the application of simple superphosphate in the early period of development. The parameters of growth analysis showed the effect of simple superphosphate on the leaf area and dry matter accumulation in different parts of the plant.