Arnica is a plant widely used in folk medicine, which is in danger of extinction. This work aimed to evaluate growth, nutrients and aluminum contents and quantity in aboveground dry matter under liming and fertilization. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse, with allic Cambisol samples in 2x3+1 factorial scheme, using two liming levels (with and without) and three fertilization types (mineral, organic and mixed). Control was an additional treatment, using soil from arnica endemic land, to simulate its natural conditions of development. Four replications were used and one plant for each pot. Relative growth (RG) was obtained from initial and final heights. Aboveground dry matter (ADM) and the root dry matter (RDM) were determined. The contents and accumulation of nutrients and aluminum were determined in ADM. Generally, arnica showed higher ADM, RDM and RG with mineral fertilization and lower ADM, RDM and RG with organic fertilization. For ADM, liming was essential only in treatments with organic fertilizer. Arnica is not Al-tolerant, it is Zn- and Mn-exigent, but is not macronutrients-exigent plant.
Mineral nutrition; medicinal plant; cropping; Lychnophora pinaster
