Agronomic performance of jambu (Acmella oleracea) using organic fertilization

Abstract

Jambu is a plant species from the northern region of Brazil, where it is widely used in food as a seasoning in typical regional dishes, and in folk medicine. The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance of jambu under organic fertilization. The experiments were conducted under field conditions for the periods January to February, 2015 (Period 1) and May to June, 2015 (Period 2), in soil classified as dystrophic yellow latosol of medium texture. The experimental design was randomized complete block, using a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of two jambu accesses (Purple Flower and Yellow Flower), and six doses of organic fertilizer (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 kg m-2) produced from a mixture of organic compost (mixture of leaves of Syzygium malaccense, Inga edulis, Mangifera indica, and Zoysia japonica) and vermicompost in a volume ratio of 1:1. The following characteristics were evaluated: plant height, fresh mass, and productivity. The best jambu agronomic performance (in terms of yield) was obtained with the application of 10 kg m-2 of organic fertilizer, with higher productivity in the cultivation performed between May and June, 2015. The Yellow Flower access was more productive than the Purple Flower access.