Growth, nutrient absorption and nutrient export by anato plants

Abstract

Anato plant seeds (Bixa orellana var. Peruana) were germinated in a soil + organic matter (2:1) substrate that received triple superphosphate (1.5 g/l). After 115 days, plants were transplanted to a high fertility Dark Red Latosol. Spacing was 5m x 5m a top dressing with 5g of KCl and l0g urea per plant was applied at the 201 day. Starting on day 115 plants (4 per sampling) were collected at 60 day intervals until the 507 day. Samples were subdivided in leaves, branches, stem and reproductive parts. At the 507 day fruits were taken and divided into seeds and hulls. Anato plants grew slowly until the 267 day and improved growth rate from then on to the 447 day, when growth almost stopped. The macro and micronutrient extraction by a 400 plant per hectare crop at the 507 day were: N - 25.7 kg, P - 4.1 kg, K - 16.7 kg, Ca - 16.4 kg, Mg - 4.4 kg, S - 2.5 kg, B - 56.4 g, Cu - 16.2 g, Fe - 240.1 g, Mn - 130.3 g and Zn - 50.7 g.