Mineral compositions in forage cactus cladodes under different spacings and chemical fertilizers

Abstract

Objective of study was to evaluate the nutrient and dry matter production in the giant palm cultivar under different spacing and fertilization at 390 and  620 days after planting (DAP). A randomized block design was used with 12 treatments, three replications in a factorial 3 x 4: three spacings: 1.00 x 0.50, 2.00 x 0.25 and 3.00 x 1.00 x 0.25 m and four fertilizations: 0-0-0, 0-150-0, 200-150-0, 200-150-100, kg ha^-1 of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O. The mean contents of N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, B, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu determined were respectively 1.25, 0.08, 2.51, 0.30, 1, 75; 0.77 (dag kg^-1), and 15.82, 12.22, 37.88, 444.02, 42.36, 40.21 (mg kg^-1) at the DAP 390, and 1.75; 0.12; 2.49, 0.37; 2.68; 1.25 dag kg^-1 and 22.43; 04.55; 45.20, 1354.28; 65.37; 40.44 mg kg^-1 at 620 DAP, with means dry matter production (PMS) of 17.10 Mg ha^-1. There were no interactions for nutrient contents except PMS. Use of NPK and NP reduces the Ca and Na content and increases the N, P, S and Mn contents. Fertilization with NP reduces the concentration of K and fertilization with P increases P compared to control. The extracted potassium and nitrogen were greater than added. Fertilizations increased the nutrient levels, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, which improve nutritional value, and production was increased in the spacing 1.00 x 0.50 m.