Growth of Jatropha curcas L. fertilized with nitrogen and potassium under conditions of dry tropical forest of Colombia

Abstract

Crecimiento de Jatropha curcas L. fertilizada con nitrógeno y potasio en condiciones de bosque seco tropical de Colombia , with no differences presented among the treatments with fertilizer application. The highest absolute growth rate (AGR) was observed when 150 kg ha -1 of N+180 kg ha -1 of K 2 O were applied at the start of the reproductive phase (345 das), 24.5 g d -1. The specific leaf area (SLA) did not present a response to the treatments. The relative growth rate (RGR) reached zero value at 402 das for the plants without fertilizers. The accumulation of biomass in J. curcas was influenced by the fertilizers with N and K, presenting rapid initial vegetative growth (first 165 das) which decreased with the starting of the reproductive phase.Frente a la demanda de los biocombustibles, las especies vegetales no comestibles que no compitan con los cultivos tradicionales en Colombia, aparecen como una alternativa importante, tal como Jatropha curcas L. Con el fin de generar mayor conocimiento sobre el crecimiento de esta especie se aplicaron diferentes dosis de fertilizantes con N y K durante los primeros 435 días después de la siembra (dds) en zona de bosque seco tropical. Con la mayor dosis de N (150 kg ha . El área foliar específica AFE no presentó respuesta a los tratamientos, la tasa relativa de crecimiento (TRC) llegó a un valor de 0 a los 402 dds para las plantas sin fertilizar. La acumulación de biomasa en J. curcas estuvo influenciada por la fertilización con N y K, presentando un rápido crecimiento vegetativo inicial (primeros 165 dds), el cual se disminuyó al pasar a la etapa reproductiva.

Comparison of Growth Indices of Nigella sativa L. under Different Plant Densities and Fertilization

“…Plant growth is defined as an irreversible permanent increase in size over time, accompanied by an increase in dry weight, indicating gradual and progressive structural and physiological changes and development and can be identified by mathematical models that contribute synthesizing and improving knowledge about a productive system (Montenegro et al, 2017). Plant growth analysis is an explanatory and integrative approach using observed primary data, in particular weights, areas, volumes, and contents of plants to evaluate the processes involving the whole plant or plant population (Hunt, 1990).…”