Quantitative analysis of jatropha growth: micronutrient delivery system and NPK combined effects / Análise quantitativa de crescimento do pinhão manso: efeitos combinados de um sistema de fornecimento de micronutrientes e NPK

Studies approaching jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) growth through quantitative analysis parameters are limited, especially regarding the response to different fertilizer types and doses. In order to investigate the effects of a micronutrient delivery system (MDS) fertilizer, a full quantitative analysis of growth in jatropha young plants was performed, comparing this system effectiveness under different NPK doses. Plants were grown in 3.9 L pots containing local soil, with or without MDS (main plot), combined with NPK doses (0; 1.8; 4.7 and 7.4 g L-1) in subplots. Dose-response curves of quantitative analysis variables were generated for three periods of time (40, 80 and 120 days after sown) as a sub-subplot. Quantitative analysis of growth showed that most parameters evaluated in this study were improved by MDS application, resulting in benefits for jatropha initial development, regardless of NPK doses. Even without NPK supplementation or under the lowest dose evaluated (1.8 g L-1), MDS provided better growth of J. curcas plants, being usually equivalent to the highest doses of NPK (4.7 and 7.4 g L-1) without MDS. The effective response of jatropha young plants to MDS supplementation indicates that this kind of fertilizer played a relevant role in the species metabolism, resulting in faster growth and enhanced biomass allocation.

Estudos abordando o desenvolvimento do pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas L.) através de análises de parâmetros quantitativos são limitados, especialmente em relação à resposta a diferentes tipos e doses de fertilizantes. Para investigar os efeitos de um sistema de fornecimento de micronutrientes (MDS), realizou-se uma análise quantitativa completa do crescimento de plantas jovens de pinhão manso comparando a eficácia deste sistema sob diferentes doses de NPK. As plantas foram cultivadas por 120 dias em potes de 3,9 L contendo solo local, com ou sem MDS (parcela principal), combinado com doses de NPK (0; 1,8; 4,7 e 7,4 g L-1) nas subparcelas. Curvas dose-resposta das análises quantitativas das variáveis foram geradas para três períodos (40, 80 e 120 dias após semeadura), como uma subsubparcela. As análises quantitativas de crescimento mostraram que a maioria dos parâmetros avaliados neste estudo foi melhorada pela aplicação do MDS, resultando em benefícios para o crescimento inicial do pinhão-manso, independemente da dose de NPK. Mesmo sem suplementação de NPK ou sob a dose mais baixa avaliada (1,8 g L-1), o MDS proporcionou melhor crescimento do pinhão manso, sendo geralmente equivalente às maiores doses de NPK (4,7 e 7,4 g L-1) sem MDS. A resposta efetiva das plantas jovens do pinhão manso à suplementação com MDS indica que este tipo de fertilizante desempenhou um papel relevante no metabolismo desta espécie, resultando em um crescimento mais rápido e melhor alocação de biomassa.

Effects of microelements fertilizer ratio on growth of aconite daughter root / 中草药

Objective: To study the effect of micronutrient fertilizer ratio on the growth and yield of aconite daughter root (the processed daughter root of Aconitum carmichaelii). Methods: Taking A. carmichaelii (Ranunculaceae) as test material, to study the growth and yield of aconite daughter root under the various ratio of Zn, B, Fe, and Mn by the uniform design. Results: To promote the growth and improve the yield of aconite daughter root, the optimum ratio of fertilizer Zn-B-Fe-Mn was 4:1:1:2. Under this ratio, the size of the tuber, the number of the fibrous roots, the length of fibrous roots, the volume of the sub-root, and the dry weight of the tuber, the fibrous roots, and the mother root were significantly or very significantly higher than those under the other fertilizer ratio, while the plant height and the dry weight of leaf were lower than those in the control treatment, with the weight of fibrous roots and the mother roots increased by 24.5% and 25.9% compared with those in the control treatment. The results also showed that there existed negative correlation between the plant height and the yield of per plant, while the dry weight of the fibrous roots and the mother roots showed significantly positive correlation with the yield of per plant. Conclusion: The above mentioned ratio of Zn-B-Fe-Mn as 4:1:1:2 is the best, since it could promote the growth and improve the yield of aconite daughter root more than the other treatment.