Lime and fertilizer recommendation system for coconut trees

Sistema de recomendação de calcário e fertilizantes para a cultura do coqueiro

SOLOS E NUTRIÇÃO DE PLANTAS

Lime and fertilizer recommendation system for coconut trees¹

Sistema de recomendação de calcário e fertilizantes para a cultura do coqueiro

Gustavo Nogueira Guedes Pereira Rosa^I; Roberto Ferreira de Novais^II; Victor Hugo Alvarez V.^II; Nairam Félix de Barros^II; Ecila Mercês de Albuquerque Villani^III

^IEngenheiro-Agrônomo, Mestre. Fertilizantes Heringer S/A, BR 262, Km 39,4, Ponte da Aldeia, 36900-000, Manhuaçu, MG, Brasil, E-mail: [e-mail]

^IIEngenheiros-Agrônomos, Ph. Doctor. Departamento de Solos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Av. P. H. Rolfs, s/n, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brasil, E-mail: [e-mail]; [e-mail]

^IIIEngenheiro Florestal, Ph. Doctor. Departamento de Solos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Av. P. H. Rolfs, s/n, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brasil, E-mail: [e-mail]

^IVEngenheira-Agrônoma, Doutora. Pós doutoranda do Departamento de Solos, Bolsista da FAPEMIG. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P. H. Rolfs, s/n, 36570-000, Viçosa,MG, Brasil, E-mail: [e-mail]

RESUMO

As recomendações de fertilizantes utilizadas para a maior parte das culturas são baseadas em curvas de resposta. Ensaios de campo são realizados em determinada região, não sendo os resultados extrapoláveis para outras regiões. O objetivo desse trabalho foi desenvolver um Sistema de Recomendação de Corretivos e Fertilizantes para a Cultura do Coqueiro baseado no balanço nutricional, no qual, o Sistema considera, para estimar as doses de fertilizantes, a produtividade desejada, a variedade cultivada, a estimativa da disponibilidade de nutrientes no solo, assim como outras formas de adição de nutrientes. O Sistema define o balanço de nutrientes ao comparar a demanda de nutrientes com o seu suprimento. Se o balanço para determinado nutriente for negativo, calcário e, ou, fertilizante são adicionados; se positivo, não há adição. Para a fertilização de coqueiros, o sistema é dividido em três etapas: fertilização da cova de plantio, fertilização de formação e início de produção e fertilização de produção. A quantidade do nutriente exigida pela planta menos o seu suprimento por fontes diversas gera a recomendação de fertilizantes. As informações necessárias para o desenvolvimento do Sistema foram obtidas na literatura. Foram comparados os resultados obtidos pelo Sistema com as principais tabelas de recomendação de fertilizantes para o coqueiro no Brasil. As principais diferenças entre os dois procedimentos foram para a dose de P aplicada no plantio, que foi maior no Sistema proposto porque as tabelas não consideram o volume da cova, entretanto, para N e K, foram menores. A demanda por K pela cultura é elevada e os valores recomendados pelo Sistema são superiores àqueles recomendados pelas tabelas no estádio de formação e produção inicial. As recomendações de fertilizantes pelo Sistema, que foram maiores durante a fase de formação do coqueiro, comparativamente à fase de produção devem-se ao fato de que maior quantidade de biomassa é produzida na primeira fase.

Palavas-chave:Cocus nucifera L., nutrição, modelagem

ABSTRACT

Fertilizer recommendation to most agricultural crops is based on response curves. Such curves are constructed from field experimental data, obtained for a particular condition and may not be reliable to be applied to other regions. The aim of this study was to develop a Lime and Fertilizer Recommendation System for Coconut Crop based on the nutritional balance. The System considers the expected productivity and plant nutrient use efficiency to estimate nutrient demand, and effective rooting layer, soil nutrient availability, as well as any other nutrient input to estimate the nutrient supply. Comparing the nutrient demand with the nutrient supply the System defines the nutrient balance. If the balance for a given nutrient is negative, lime and, or, fertilization is recommended. On the other hand, if the balance is positive, no lime or fertilizer is needed. For coconut trees, the fertilization regime is divided in three stages: fertilization at the planting spot, band fertilization and fertilization at the production phase. The data set for the development of the System for coconut trees was obtained from the literature. The recommendations generated by the System were compared to those derived from recommendation tables used for coconut crop in Brazil. The main differences between the two procedures were for the P rate applied in the planting hole, which was higher in the proposed System because the tables do not pay heed to the pit volume, whereas the N and K rates were lower. The crop demand for K is very high, and the rates recommended by the System are superior to the table recommendations for the formation and initial production stage. The fertilizer recommendations by the System are higher for the phase of coconut tree growth as compared to the production phase, because greater amount of biomass is produced in the first phase.

Key words:Cocos nucifera L., nutrition, modelling.

INTRODUCTION

Present recommendation tables of lime and fertilizers for crops, in spite of their relative accuracy and easiness of use, are based on crop response curves and increasing fertilizer and calibration, and on the experience of specialists of the area. These tables do work alright, but there might be a great difference between a mistake from a theoretical point of view and a success from a practical viewpoint, and in terms of evolution it would definitely be unsatisfactory to work without scientific bases. This is the reason for the need to develop a lime and fertilizer recommendation system with scientific foundation, in a more mechanist than empirical adjustment. A lime and fertilizer recommendation system, developed on the base of a particular culture nutritional balance, allows a broader use and a safer evolution. The distance to the regional model becomes greater and greater, and a universal model is being approached (Novais & Smyth, 1999).

One of the objectives of the adjustment is to give rise to doubts and questions that call for solutions and answers, thus indicating the direction for future research (Prezotti, 2001).

There is already considerable knowledge on fertilization of annual crops. For perennial crops, on the other hand, particularly of tree species, comprehension is not as rich, due to factors like: long lifetime of plants; greater environmental, climatic, and soil interference; nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant system; and the kind of harvested product. These difficulties challenge specialists and researchers that work with perennial crops to strive for a more profound understanding of the climate-plant-soil relationships (Barros et al., 1996).

There is a great variation among fertilizer tables for coconut trees, suggesting that the real crop nutrient demand is actually unknown (Medina, 1980; Magat, 1991; Madeira et al., 1998; Sobral, 1998, and Rosa Jr, 2000). Besides, there are differences in the root system distribution, stem growth rate, leaf emission, and the fruit productivity and composition of the two coconut varieties, dwarf and giant, and the hybrid dwarf x giant. Consequently, the System provides a specific recommendation for the hybrid and another for the dwarf. The giant coconut is a more robust variety, although less productive, and is not included in the System because it is normally cultivated without fertilization (Sobral, 1998).

The System proposed in this study estimates the nutrient quantity that is to be applied by fertilization considering the difference between the nutrient quantity required by the plant, and the nutrient supply by the soil volume penetrated by the roots. The increment of nutrients through other sources like organic fertilizers, recycled plant parts in the soil, and rain are included, too. Wherever a particular information required for the development of the System was not available, the value was estimated consisting in the behavior of other, more investigated perennial plants.

The objective of this study was the development a lime and fertilizer recommendation model for coconut crop, according to the plant demands, taking management, target productivity, crop variety, root system distribution, nutrient increment by rain and organic fertilization, as well as nutrient availability in the soil into consideration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fertilization at the planting spot

Fertilization in the planting pit has the aim of rising the nutrient contents in the hole volume up to a certain critical level (CrL). Nitrogen was not considered in the routine analysis, since its availability could not be estimated consistently, due to the organic matter content of the soil. Fertilization aims at providing a dose of 300 mg dm³ of N to the soil.

The CrL of implantation for P and S varies according to the soil capacity factor (Prezotti, 2001). The CrLs of these nutrients are estimated by reminiscent phosphorus (PR-60) as a measure for the buffer capacity or strength of the soil element.

The recommended planting pit is 80 x 80 x 80 cm, and the nutrient quantity to be applied is proportional to its volume. Any alterations of the hole volume will alter the fertilizer quantity recommended by the System to maintain the same nutrient concentration (CrL) in the soil volume of the pit (Tables 1 and 2).

The use of dung, castor bean cake, coconut or coffee husks and bone meal is recommended and considered in the calculation of nutrient supply. Therefore, the balance of the nutrient contents of these materials is included in the System (Table 3). Organic fertilization has the advantage of acting as a fertilizer of slow release, constantly setting nutrients free, as well as improving the physical and biological soil conditions.

At the formation and beginning production stage, fruit production is still low, and the plant invests a great amount of nutrients into the root system and stem growth (Ouvrier, 1990). The hybrid coconut plant begins production at an age of approximately 42 months, and reaches the adult age at 84 months. The immobilized nutrient quantities in the plant, a sum of the immobilized contents in the roots, stem, leaves, and fruit bunches (Ouvrier, 1990) are used to adjust the nutrient demand equations according to the age of the hybrid coconut tree.

Dwarf coconut trees are considered to attain adult age after 72 months (six years) and begin fruit production at the age of three years. Nutrient demand equations according to the age of the dwarf coconut tree, as discussed later, allow an estimation of the nutrient accumulation in the vegetative plant part without the fruits. The estimation of vegetative biomass production is founded on the data for hybrid coconut trees in good state of development. Data of dry matter production of the dwarf coconut tree were estimated in relation to some characteristics of this variety. The leaf emission of the dwarf coconut per year (18) is 1.3 times higher than the one of the hybrid (14) although the leaf area of the dwarf is 80 % smaller than that of the hybrid. A 1.8 factor was used to convert the leaf dry matter production of the hybrid into that of the dwarf. The stem growth is smaller (approximately 1/3 of the hybrid growth) and the root growth was estimated 70 % below that of the giant and the hybrid coconut, due to the smaller explored soil volume (70 % less volume).

A young plant is not able to produce a large number of fruits, and the user should estimate the production around 20 fruits in the 3^rd, 40 in the 4^th, 80 in the 5^th, and from the 6^th year on, when the plant is at the top of its production capacity with up to 160 fruits per year. With the definition of the production, it is possible to estimate the total nutrient demand according to the age of the plant.

If the dry matter production of each constituent of the young dwarf or hybrid coconut plant in good growth conditions is multiplied with each nutrient content, the immobilized nutrient content of each constituent according to the age is obtained. The sum of these values is the total accumulated nutrient content according to the age (Tables 4 and 5).

After planting, the System estimates the fertilizer quantity to be applied by the difference of the nutrient content to be accumulated in the following year, until the plant attains adult age. The required nutrient quantities of coconut trees for healthy growth are estimated in function of the biomass production variation, from the first to the second year, and so on, until a stable production of the crop is attained.

The division in three age groups of the nutrient accumulation equations according to the age before the plant reaches adult age, is result of the different growth rates of the plant. At a first stage, nutrient accumulation is slow, (until 18 months for the hybrid, and 16 for the dwarf). Between 19 and 40, and 17 and 42 months, respectively, growth is intensive, so both the hybrid and dwarf coconut tree accumulate enormous nutrient amounts every year. After 40 months (beginning of flowering) until 84 months (adult age) the nutrient accumulation of the hybrid sinks again, due to the lower growth rate, although there is a demand for fruit formation.

For the adjustment of the equations to estimate the quantity of nutrients and sodium which is immobilized in the vegetative part of the dwarf coconut tree, according to the age, the nutrient contents of the roots, leaves, and stem of the dwarf coconut tree were considered to be equal to those of the hybrid at this stage.

Efficiency of nutrient recycling by the plant

The efficiency of recycling (ER) of soil nutrients by the plant varies according to the age, and for some nutrients, it varies also according to the soil capacity factor (reminiscent P or clay content). Young plants present a lower ER than the adult plants (Table 6), due to the smaller root system, mainly regarding nutrients of low mobility in the soil, such as P (Prezotti, 2001). This behavior explains the high nutrient recommendation in relation to the quantity the plant accumulates in its biomass.

The ER of nutrients for a plant is calculated by the difference between the immobilized nutrients in the fertilized plant and the immobilized quantity in the control, divided by the applied nutrient dose, that is, the uptake of the applied nutrient by the plant. The estimate values of the ER were considered the constant during the youth stage, and variations according to varying applied nutrient doses were not taken into account.

Nutrient quantity in the soil required by plants

The nutrient quantity in the soil required by the plant is obtained with the division of the immobilized nutrient quantity in the biomass (demand) by the ER. The explored soil volume at the adult stage is known for the dwarf (Cintra et al., 1992), and the giant variety (Cintra et al., 1993). The soil volume hybrid trees explore is considered equal to that of giant coconut, for want of data. The soil volume young coconut plants explore is assessed according to the root distribution radius from the stem and the depth obtained at adult age. An yearly increase of 5 cm is estimated for the depth and 20 cm for the radius until the adult age (Table 7).

Nutrient supply

Nutrient supply is calculated by the sum of the nutrient quantities available in the soil (Table 8), those added by rain (Table 9), and by organic fertilization (Table 3).

Nutrient contents determined by soil analysis do not indicate, quantitatively, what a plant can adsorb. However, if the nutrient recycling rate from the soil by the extractor is known, that is, the relation between the recycled nutrient quantity by the extractor and the nutrient quantity applied to the soil, it is possible to estimate the available quantity for plants, according to the soil volume the roots explore (Tables 7). For the nutrients P and S, whose behavior is influenced by the soil capacity factor, the nutrient recycling rates for a determined factor by the extractor vary according to the PR-60 (Novais & Smyth, 1999). When the PR-60 value is not known, it can be estimated according to the clay content (Prezotti, 2001). To obtain mean recycling values of nutrients for a particular extractor, information from different studies, carried out in soils with different characteristics were combined. It is assumed that the organic soil matter does remain constant, and that N is supplied by the rain, crop residues and organic fertilizers, without including the released nutrients by mineralization of the organic matter.

The application of high P doses in the planting hole causes a residual effect in the soil.

Regarding nutrient addition, the analysis of rain and yearly precipitation of each region provide the necessary information for the calculation of the System. Data of the region Aracruz, State of Espirito Santo, are shown as an example (Table 9).

Nutrient quantity to be applied (fertilization recommendations)

The nutrient quantity that is to be applied (recommended fertilization) is calculated by the difference between the nutrient quantity in the soil required by the plant to establish a determined biomass (demand-Tables 4 and 5, divided by the ER- Table 6) and the nutrient supply in the soil (Table 8) through organic fertilization (Table 3), and rain (Table 9).

The lime quantity to be applied is calculated by the base saturation method (Alvarez V. & Ribeiro, 1999) with the formula: LD = (V₂ V₁) T / 100 where LD = lime demand in t/ha, V₁ = initial soil base saturation, in %, V₂ = desired saturation, in %, and T = CTC to pH 7.0, in cmol_c dm³. For the coconut crop, an elevation of the V₂ to 60 % is desirable. The formula: LQ = LD x CS/100 x DI/20 x 100/RSTN is used for the calculation of the lime quantity to be applied, where LQ = the lime quantity, in t/ha; CS = covered surface, in %, calculated according to the soil area explored by the plants (Tables 7 and 8) and the number of plants per ha; DI = depth of incorporation (since lime is surface applied, a DI of 5 cm is assumed), in cm; and RSTN = relative strength of total neutralization, in %.

When the base saturation method recommends certain lime quantities that provide Ca and Mg doses that are higher or equal to the System to supply the Ca and Mg plant demand, these nutrients are not necessary. When the base saturation method recommends Ca or, which is common, lower Mg quantities than the System, these nutrients must be supplied by other sources, as for example magnesium sulfate.

Fertilization of adult plants

When the plants reach adult age, the explored soil volume by the root system and the number of leaves become constant; the annual growth of the stem is constant (Table 10), and the greatest demand of nutrients is on account of the fruit cluster production (Tables 11 and 12 ).

At this stage, the annual nutrient demand of the adult plant is the sum of the immobilized nutrient quantity in the stem and the immobilized nutrient quantity in the fruit clusters for a determined productivity (Tables 11 and 12). Roots and leaves are not included in the evaluation of this stage, since it is assumed that these parts, when formed, will be supplied by recycling of dead leaves and roots.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Comparison of recommendation methods

Recommendation tables differ widely among each other, indicating that the knowledge on the real crop nutrient demand is limited. Some situations were simulated to evaluate the results brought forth by the System, allocating values to the different considered situations: soil analysis, organic fertilization, addition of nutrients by rain and crop residues. The fertilizer quantities recommended by the tables were converted into element quantities to make comparisons between these and the System easier (Tables 13, 14, and ¹⁵). All recommendations, except for the one by Magat (1991), observe only N, P, and K (Medina, 1980; Madeira et al., 1998; Sobral, 1998; and Rosa Jr, 2000).

For a hybrid coconut tree up to six years, the N recommendation of the System is similar to that of EMBRAPA (Sobral, 1998). One exception is the first year, when the System recommendation is lower, due to the less intensive growth stage, and the third year, when the recommendation is higher, due to the increased growth. Nitrogen recommendation at the adult stage was lower than EMBRAPA recommended (Sobral, 1998) and closer to the recommendation of Frutal (Madeira et al., 1998). Phosphorus recommendation by the System is higher for the initial stage (up to the third year) and inferior to the other recommendations from the fifth year on. Potassium recommendation by the System between the 2^nd and the 6^th year is superior to the other recommendations, suggesting that the plant demand is superior to the recommended quantities by the tables. Recommendations for K in the adult phase lay a little below the recommendation of EMBRAPA (Sobral, 1998).

Due to the fast growth of the dwarf coconut, the N, P, and K doses recommended by the System from the second year on are superior to the doses recommended in the Sebrae tables (Rosa Jr, 2000), EMBRAPA (Sobral, 1998), and Frutal (Madeira et al., 1998). During the productive phase, without considering fruit husk recycling, N and P doses recommended by the System are inferior to those of the tables (Tables 13 and 14), while the K doses are superior, since high quantities of this element are exported via fruits.

The System recommends higher doses of Mg for the plants at two and three years of age, since the most intensive growth phase lies between 19 and 40 months, while Magat (1991) recommends increasing doses. Up to seven years, the two recommendations for the totally applied Mg doses are similar. The recommended Mg dose by the System for adult plants is well below the dose recommended by Magat (1991), because the Mg quantities found in the husks and residues were taken into account for the calculation of the System doses.

The fertilization recommendation for Cl by the System is superior to that recommended by Magat (1991) for the entire young stage. Only when the plant reaches adult age, Cl recommendations become similar (recommendation of the System is a bit inferior).

CONCLUSIONS

For the fertilization of the planting hole, the recommendations given by the tables do not pay heed to the pit volume. Nitrogen and K recommendations for the planting hole by the tables are higher, compared to the recommendations brought forth by the System, whereas the P recommendation is lower.

Due to the fact that the nutrient demand during the production stage is a requirement for stem growth and fruit production only, higher fertilizer doses are recommended for the formation and initial production stage, where there is also root growth and leaf recycling is not taken into account, than for the production stage (adult plant).

The crop demand for K is very high, and the doses recommended by the System are superior to the table recommendations for the formation and initial production stage.

The System offers the possibility to calculate fertilizer doses according to the form of fruit use. The fruit bunches can either be harvested as a whole, or parts of the fruit cluster (spikelet and stalk) or of the fruit (husks) can be restored, and the released nutrients of these parts are taken into account accordingly.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for the Pos Doctor scholarship to Ecila Mercês de Albuquerque Villani.

Recebido para publicação em março de 2010 e aprovado em dezembro de 2010

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Parte da Dissertação apresentada à Universidade Federal de Viçosa pelo primeiro autor para obter o título de mestre. Trabalho financiado pelo CNPq.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  23 Nov 2011
• Date of issue
  Feb 2011

History

• Accepted
  Dec 2010
• Received
  Mar 2010