Research with powder rock have shown the potential of some residues in promoting the mineral enrichment of soils, a practice defined as ground basalt soil. This study aimed to evaluate the growth of seedlings of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) in response to fertilization with simple superphosphate and powder rock. The experiment was conducted from January to April 2006 in a greenhouse of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG-ICA), located in Montes Claros/MG, Brazil. The treatments were arranged in a factorial 2 x 5, in a randomized block design with 3 replicates, corresponding to the addition to the substrate of 2 doses of rock powder and 5 doses of simple superphosphate. The evaluated variables were: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, root fresh and dry matter, shoot fresh and dry matter and phosphorus content in the plant. The results indicate an increase in seedling growth with increasing levels of simple superphosphate and decrease of the effect of the phosphate fertilizer with the addition of powder rock to the substrate, possibly related to phenomena of adsorption by iron oxides and amorphous and/or carbonates, considering that the powder rock came from the disintegration of slate, marble and granite. The simple superphosphate dose, without the addition of powder rock, to produce better quality seedlings, should range from 3.0 to 6.5 kg m-3, whereas with the addition of powder rock, should range from 6.0 to at least 10.0 kg m-3.
Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa; phosphorus fertilizers; rock fertilizers
