An experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions, in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil, to evaluate the effects of macronutrient omission on beet nutritional status and development, as well as to describe nutritional deficiency symptoms. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design with three replications and seven treatments, corresponding to complete nutritive solution (macro and micronutrients) and individual N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S omission. Plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot, root and whole plant dry mass and macronutrient levels were determined and nutritional deficiency symptoms were described. Individual omissions of N, P, K or Ca were the most limiting for beet growth, considerably reducing plant height, number of leaves, and shoot, root and whole plant dry mass. Nutritional deficiency symptoms were observed for each element. Shoot macronutrient levels in control and nutrient omission treatments were, respectively: N = 32.9 - 13.8; P = 9.0 - 0.8; K = 126.0 - 15.1; Ca = 12.0 - 1.0; Mg = 10.1 - 0.7; S = 3.6 - 1.2 g kg-1.
Beta vulgaris; nutritional deficiency; mineral nutrition; development
