Acid phosphatase activity was evaluated in leaf extracts of four year old peach palms (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) in January, 1995. Plants from four progenies were field-grown under the combination of two levels of phosphorus (P1 = 0 and P2 = 200 kg ha-1 year-1 of P2O5) and two levels of nitrogen (N1 = 0 and N2 = 400 kg ha-1 year-1 of N). Potassium was applied at a rate of 200 kg ha-1 year-1 of K2O. The results of acid phosphatase activity were 8.35, 4.58, 10.84 and 11.05 µmol h-1 g-1, respectively, for combinations N2P2, N2P1, N1P2 and N1P1. There were differences in enzyme activity between nitrogen levels (10.95 and 6.47 µmol h-1 g-1, respectively, for N1 and N2) and among progenies, ranging from 6.18 to 10.10 µmol h-1 g-1. Acid phosphatase activity was negatively correlated to above ground and root dry matter weight, as well as heart of palm yield. No significant correlation was found between enzyme activity and P soil or leaf content.
Bactris gasipaes; biomass; fertilizing; heart of palm