Nutritional efficiency of phosphorus and sulfur by pineapple ‘Pérola’ as a function of P and S doses

Abstract

The global crisis in the fertilizer market implies the need for nutritional efficiency in crops. This work aimed to establish nutritional efficiency indices for phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) in pineapple 'Pérola', as a function of doses of these nutrients in a Red-Yellow Argisol of Mata Paraibana. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. The treatments were arranged in a modified Plan Puebla III Experimental Matrix, and resulted from the combination of five doses of P (0.48; 2.8; 4; 6.7 and 9.1 g plant^-1 P₂O₅) and five doses of S (0.48; 2.8; 4.8; 6.7 and 9.1 g plant^-1). After harvest, the values ​​of dry matter mass (dm), content (c) and accumulation (ac) of P and S were determined in different parts of the pineapple plant, then calculated as efficiency of use (Efutz), conversion (Efcon), translocation (Eftra), absorption (Efabs) and recovery (Efrec). The doses of P and S increased as Efabs and Eftra (P only), but reduced the Efrec of the respective nutrients. There was synergism between the doses of P and S for Efutz (only P) and Efcon these nutrients, and antagonism for EftraS. EfrecP and EfrecS decrease with increasing doses, from 0.85 to 0.03 kg kg^-1 and from 0.85 to 0.10 kg kg^-1 with increasing doses from 0.48 to 9.1 g plant^-1 of P₂O₅ and S, respectively. The average recovery rates of P and S by pineapple were 0.23 and 0.36 kg kg^-1, respectively.