Nutrient Accumulation in Amaryllis

Abstract

Amaryllis plants (Hippeastrum hybrid, in the family Amaryllidaceae) are cultivated in Brazil mainly for bulb export. Studies about the nutrient accumulation dynamics by the species are yet incipient when considering Brazilian cultivation conditions. The objective was to determine the nutrient accumulation in amaryllis “Orange Souvereign” cultivated in the field. The experimental design was entirely randomized with four replications and 14 collection periods (at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, 360, 390, and 420 days after planting). Sampled plants were divided into leaves, bulb, and roots, which were used for determination of nutrient accumulation by leaves (aerial part) and bulb + roots (underground part). Nutrient accumulation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn was calculated for each collection period, and then represented by curves of macro and micronutrient accumulation, as well as accumulation percentages for each plant part. For most macro and micronutrients, the interval of maximum accumulation fell from 301 to 420 days after planting, matching with the cycle final stage of plants cultivated in the field. Accumulated macronutrients by amaryllis plants along the cultivation cycle was, in g·plant-1: 1.57 N; 0.19 P; 2.58 K; 0.64 Ca; 0.20 Mg; and 0.29 S, following the descending order: K > N > Ca > S > Mg > P. Accumulated micronutrients, in mg·plant-1, was: 2.18 B; 1.17 Cu; 22.33 Fe; 2.19 Mn; and 4.09 Zn, following the descending order: Fe > Zn > Mn > B > Cu.