The aim of this study was to evaluate the macronutrient concentrations in leaves and fruits of sweet pepper plants subjected to irrigation depths and potassium doses by fertigation. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 5x2, with four replications, the factors being five water depths (80, 90, 100, 110 and 120% of ETc) and two potassium doses (80 and 120 kg ha-1 of K2O) parceled according to phenological phase. The fertirrigation was made by a drip irrigation system, with self-compensable emitters, installed in a battery of 40 drainage lysimeters cultivated with sweet pepper plants (Hybrid Maximos F1), located at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, whose experimental plot consisted of three plants in each lysimeter. The results showed the following order of nutrients content: N>K>Cl>Mg>Ca>P>S>Na, in the leaves, and K>N>Cl>P>Ca>S>Mg>Na, in the fruits. The highest concentrations of K and Mg in the leaves were obtained with the water depths of 103.43 and 105.54% of crop evapotranspiration, respectively; the K doses did not inhibit the absorption of nutrients, except for Mg and S in the leaves.
Capsicum annuum; fertigation; drainage lysimeters; mineral nutrition
