ZINCO E COBRE EM PINHÃO MANSO. II. TEORES DOS ELEMENTOS EM FOLHAS E CAULE

Abstract

Jatropha curcas crop is raising attention as an alternative crop for oil and biodiesel production. Despite the knowledge about their nutritional demand is essential for fertilizer recommendation, few research has been made on this issue, mainly on the use de zinc and copper. In order to measures these elements concentration in leaves and stems of Jatropha curcas plant two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse, in Campina Grande, Paraiba State, Brazil, from July to December 2007. The substrate for the pot plants was a 5 mm-sieved surface soil(Neossolo Quartzarênico). The experimental design was a completely randomized with three replications. The treatments of first and second experiment were composed of five levels of Zn (0; 2; 4; 6 and 8 mg dm-3) and five levels of Cu (0; 1; 2; 3; and 4 mg dm-3) which were applied at the time of planting. One plant of Jatropha curcas was grown per pot after thinning and was irrigated whenever necessary. At 80, 100 and 120 days after planting were collected the 4 th. leaves of each plant; at the end of the experimental period, all the leaves and stems were collected separately and in any plant material were determined the levels of zinc and copper. Under conditions that the experiments were carried out the treatments Zn influenced the content of the element found in the fourth leaf of the plant, collected at 100 days after sowing, and they deemed appropriate. The treatments with copper influenced in a positive manner the content of the element found in the fourth leaf collected 80, 100 and 120 DAS, however, the levels of the element at all times and in all parts of the plants were very low.