Desempenho agronômico de clones de palma forrageira Submetidos a diferentes níveis de potássio

Abstract

Cactus forage can be used as a food alternative for ruminants in the Semi - arid region of Brazil, however, there are few researches related to potassic fertilization in the semi - arid environment and the morphological and productive responses of the cactus forage submitted to potassium fertilization. The objective was to evaluate the agronomic performance of forage palm clones submitted to different levels of potassium fertilization in a semi-arid environment. The experiment was conducted at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco / UniversidadeEstadual de Serra Talhada- UAST, in Serra Talhada-PE, during the period from December 2017 to December 2018. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a 5x2 factorial system ( five potassium levels and two palm clones) with three replicates. Two genotypes of forage palm, the Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.) And Docemiúda (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm. Dyck), were submitted to different doses of potassium (0, 250, 500, 750, 1000 kg of K2O ha-1). Morphometric evaluations (plant height, cladode number, length, width and thickness of cladodium) and of green and dry matter production were performed at six months and at 12 months of cultivation. The variables, plant height at six and 12 months of age, did not show