Abstract

MADEIRA, A. C.; CARNEIRO, M.; MARQUES, P.  and  MADEIRA, M.. Evaluation of the nutritional state of young plants of Eucalyptus globulus by foliar and spectroradiometric analysis. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2009, vol.32, n.1, pp.13-26. ISSN 0871-018X.

The nutritional state of young plants of Eucalyptus globulus was evaluated, in different scenarios of harvest residues management and nutrient availability, by foliar (N, Ca, Mg, P and K contents and leaf area, chlorophyll and carotenoids contents) and spectroradiometric analysis (SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter). Treatments were removal of harvest residues (R); as R and fertilizer application (RF); as R and legume seeding (RL); distribution of harvest residues on the soil surface (S); as S and fertilizer application (SF); incorporation of harvest residues into the soil by harrowing (I); as I and fertilizer application (IF); as I and leguminous seeding (IL). Trees of treatment I showed greater growth than those of R and S treatments; the application of fertilizers increased the growth only in treatments where harvest residues were kept in the site (SF and IF). Initially, N contents were positively affected by the leguminous (treatments RL and IL), but, after fertilizer application, the highest N contents were observed in treatments IF, RF and SF compared with the others, the differences being reduced in the next autumn season; a similar trend was observed for values of SPAD. In contrast, contents of Ca and Mg strongly decreased in treatments where fertilizers were applied. SPAD values were correlated (P<0.05) with N, Ca and Mg contents, as well as with specific leaf area. The spectroradiometric technique, since properly calibrated, could be an alternative method to monitor the nutritional state of young plants of E. globulus.

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