Growth and production of yellow passion fruits plants under different sources and doses of phosphorus

Abstract

Brazil is the largest world producer of yellow passion fruit, a fruit crop which is exigent in nutrients, although little studied in relation to phosphorus fertilizing, fundamental on plant establishment. An experiment was carried out during the period of March/2010 to April/2011 in Remígio County, Paraiba State, Brazil, in order to evaluate the vegetative and productive attributes of yellow passion fruit plants under different sources and doses of phosphorus. Treatments were distributed in randomized blocks in tree replications and twelve plants by plot using the factorial design 2 x 5 referring the sources of superphosphate triple and superphosphate simple at levels P2O5 of 0, 12, 18, 24 and 30 g cave-1. The following variables were recorded: stem diameter, number of productive branches, number of fruits per plant, fruit mass and fruit yield. The sources and doses of phosphorus affected growth and fruit production of yellow passion plants. The triple superphosphate is the most phosphorus efficient source for growth and fruit production of yellow passion fruit. The triple superphosphate dose which promoted the maximum yield of yellow passion fruit is 42.86 g.