Nutritional deficiency in torch ginger (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R. M. Smith): Effect on dry matter production and biometrical index

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of simple and multiple nutrient omissions on the dry matter production and growth parameters of torch ginger plants. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions at the Soil Science Department of Federal University of Lavras (Lavras-MG). The experiment was started in January 2007 and lasted for 12 months, following a completely randomized design, with four replicates and eight treatments: Complete Hoagland & Arnon nutrient solution, and nutrient solutions without N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, and B. Plant height, stem diameter, number of stems, number of leaves per stem, and volume of root were evaluated. Subsequently the plants were divided into leaf + pseudostem, rhizome, root and tillers for dry matter determination. The nutrient omissions affected the growth parameters and dry matter production. It was observed that torch ginger is more demanding in B, K, N, P and S at the initial phase of growth rather than in Ca and Mg. The reduction of the total dry matter weight of the plants was affected in the following order: B> K> N> P> S> Mg> Ca.