Resumo

MALDONADO T., R.; ALMAGUER V., G.; ALVAREZ S., M. E.  e  ROBLEDO S., E.. Nutritional Diagnosis and Validation of the Fertilization Dosage for Persian Lime. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.4, pp.341-349. ISSN 2395-8030.

Almost 70% of the Persian lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) growers in Northern Veracruz, Mexico obtain a low mean yield of approximately 7 Mg ha^–1, while those in Florida, USA produce an average of 21 Mg ha^–1. This is largely due to improper management of the fertilization in the orchards. To provide a solution to this problem, in an orchard located in the common land (ejido) Chavarrillo located in the municipality of Emiliano Zapata in Veracruz, based on the method proposed by Etchevers, four restorative fertilization formulas were established and validated, then compared with the absolute and regional control treatments. The regional control had almost twice the nitrogen dosage than the proposed treatments. Data needed to calculate restoration treatments were derived from analysis of orchard soil and from nutrient requirements of Persian lime. This data were validated with the DRIS and Kenworthy diagnostic methods. Trees fertilized with the restitution formula multiplied by 1.5 (estimated in one application) yielded 22.6 Mg ha^–1 of fruit, significantly higher than the mean yield of 14.2 Mg ha^–1 corresponding to the control trees. Trees treated with the regional formula produced 16.2 Mg ha^–1 of fruit. Fruit quality (color, equatorial diameter, juice, waste pulp, and acidity) was not modified by the studied treatments. Only the nutrient concentration of N and Zn in the leaves increased significantly by the restitution method.

Palavras-chave : Citrus latifolia Tan.; citrus; plant nutrition.