Diagnosis of macronutrient deficiency symptoms in black pepper (Piper nigrum, L.)

Abstract

To characterize macronutrient deficiencies in black pepper plants (Piper nigrum L.), an experiment was conducted using pepper cuttings, "Guajarina"¹ cultivar, grown in pots containing silex and the following nutrient solutions: -N, -P, -K, -Ca, -Mg, -S and complete. The nutrient deficiencies were described at 90 and 150 days after omission of nutrients. The most absorbed nutrients were potassium and nitrogen, followed by Ca, Mg, S and P. The omission of N was the treatment which most afected plant growth, followed by Ca and K. The analytical indices in the leaves of complete and omission treatments were respectively: N = 1.89 and 1.39%, P = 0.12 and 0.06%, K = 2.19 and 1.22%, Ca = 1.04 and 0.73%, Mg = 0.35 and 0.14%, S = 0.18 and 0.12%.