EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND ZINC ON THE GROWTH OF Theobroma grandiflorum Schum SEEDLINGS

Abstract

The effect of phosphorus and zinc on the growth of “cupuaçu” (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum.) seedlings was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Samples of a tipic dystrophic Red Latosol (Ousol) were collected from 0-20 cm depth in the Campus of Federal University of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Soil analyses showed 1 mg P (by Mehlich 1) and 0.9 mg of Zn dm^-3. A randomized experimental block design with treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 3 scheme, with four levels of P (0; 150; 300 and 450 mg dm^-3) and three levels of Zn (0; 5 and 10 mg dm^-3), with four replications, was used. Data collected were height, and diameter of plants eight months after planting, leaf area and dry matter production after harvesting the experiment. Results showed that P, Zn application and the interaction P/Zn increased (p < 0,05) growth of cupuaçu seedlings. The treatment that produced the highest leaf area and dry matter production of plants was the combination of 300 mg P and 5 mg Zn dm^-3 of soil.