Nutrient absorption march and accumulation of nutrients in developing Roxo de Valinhos fig (Ficus carica L.) tree, cultivated under different water regimes

Abstract

The nutrient absorption march in fig (Ficus carica L.) trees and other fruit trees has been studied only at the seedling stage, and little is known about nutrient accumulation in perennial plants when the entire life cycle of the plant is considered. To this end, the present study aimed to evaluate nutrient accumulation in the Roxo de Valinhos fig tree, cultivated with and without supplemental irrigation. The split-plot array in time was adopted, with the main factor arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. The main plot was the use of supplemental irrigation and the subplots were the eight data collection time-points. The fig plants were sampled for 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 and 280 days after pruning (DAP). The maximum accumulation of dry matter mass and nutrients occurred between 160 and 240 DAP in both systems. Plants in the irrigated system showed greater overall accumulation of nutrients in all the organs, more prominently in the leaves, branches, and stem. The dry matter mass and nutrient accumulation was in the order stem > leaves > branches > roots > fruit in the irrigated system and branches > stem > leaves > roots > fruit in the non-irrigated system.