Abstract

CRUZ GARCIA, Hermila et al. Nutrients and carbohydrates in plants from Agave angustifolia Haw. and Agave karwinskii Zucc. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.spe6, pp.1161-1173. ISSN 2007-0934.

Most agave species used for the production of mezcal in Oaxaca, develop on terrains with steep slopes, stony and soils of low fertility; however, is not common to fertilize agave crops, so it is necessary to know the nutritional status of the adult plants that are harvested. The objective of this research was to determine nutrient concentration in leafs and stems; morphological traits and total reducing sugar (TRS) in piñas (stem and base of leafs), from adult plant of Agave angustifolia Haw and A. karwinskii Zucc. The research was conducted in 2010 in four locations in the state of Oaxaca. In plants that farmers selected and harvested, morphological characteristics were recorded of its stems, leaf and stem samples were taken for laboratory analysis. The results showed that the piñas of Agave angustifolia Haw and A. karwinskii Zucc had an average of 80.87 and 22.59 kg fresh weight, 37.10 and 20.21 cm in diameter, 67.23 and 97.47 cm in length; the nutrient content in leaf tissues (mg g^-1 dry weight) was 8.68 and 8.99 N, 1.26 and 1.61 P, 8.97 and 8.85 K, 40.26 and 66 Ca In piñas the nutrient content (mg g^-1 dry weight) was 4.30 and 5.33 N, 0.28 and 0.33 P, 1.58 and 2.75 K, 10.25 and 10.13 Ca. From the fresh weight of the piñas of Agave angustifolia and A. karwinskii 21.16% and 27.29% were TRS respectively.

Keywords : Agave angustifolia Haw; Agave karwinskii Zucc; reducing sugar; macronutrients.

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