The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of potassium doses applied through fertigation by drip irrigation upon the concentration of nutrients in the soil, soil solution and nutritional state of yellow passion fruit plants, in the semi-arid region of Piauí, Brazil. The experiment was accomplished in the Pilot Project area of Irrigated Fruitculture of CODEVASF, in the Santa Rosa municipality, Piauí state (06° 47' 56''S, 42° 17'17'' W and 187 m of altitude). The experimental layout was a completely randomized block design with five treatments and four replications. The treatments were consisted of five potassium doses (0.00; 0.225; 0.450; 0.675; 0.900 kg of K2O plant-1year-1). The nutritional status of the plants was evaluated and the nutrient concentration in the soil profile and in the soil solution in the layers of 0.0-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m were determined. The increase of potassium doses applied to the soil through irrigation water increased the potassium concentration and sodium in the soil. The potassium doses caused also significant increases of K in the leaves of yellow passion fruit and increased the plant nutritional state above the optimum level. The potassium concentration in the soil solution varied with plant growth until 132 days after transplant, and remained relatively stable thereafter.
fertirrigation; plant nutrition; Passiflora edulis
