Lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf., is a plant with medicinal and aromatic uses. However, little is known about its nutrition requirements. This work was carried out to investigate the effects of pH and phosphorus levels on nutrients availability and the initial growth of lemongrass. The experiment was carried out in Lages (SC, Brazil) from April tol December 2008, in greenhouse conditions. The experiment followed a factorial design, with four levels of pH (4.1, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5), three doses of phosphorus (0, 50, and 100 mg kg-1 of soil), and four replicates (each replicate corresponding to a pot with two plants). The correction of pH increased Ca and Mg, and reduced Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn in the soil. The addition of 100 mg kg-1 P increased by more than 250% the P in the soil, irrespective of pH. The addition of P and the correction of pH, specially the last one, increased all growth attributes of lemongrass (dry matter of shoot and root parts, number of leaves, and plant height), with a significant interaction between pH and the dose of P only for the number of leaves. The highest plant growth was achieved by correcting the soil pH to 6.5, with the addition of 100 mg kg-1 P.
Cymbopogon citratus; medicinal plant; soil pH; nutrition
