Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium After Planting Fertilization In Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. Ex Mart.).

The South America, especially in savanna of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, has a specie of Arecacea botanical family with great potential for biodiesel production. More generally known in Brazil as “macaúba”, the macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.) has fruits spherical with diameter between 2,5 and 5,0 cm. The mesocarp is fibrous and mucilaginous, rich in glycerides and oils, with yellow color, being edible. The endocarp is strongly adhered to the pulp with lignified wall and almond oilseed, edible, coated with thin layer of integument. Each fruit contains one seed (LORENZI, 2006). According Moura et al. (2010) among oleaginous plants, macaw palm is the second most productive (1,500 to 5,000 kg oil ha^-1), inferior only to oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). The authors also claim that besides the high productivity achieved after four years of growth, Acrocomia aculeata can produce for over 100 years, and that gives this species a great potential for biodiesel production. The first approximation for fertilizer recommendation in Acrocomia aculeata in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, was developed adapting the existed recommendation for Elaeis guineensis (PIMENTEL et al., 2011). In this sense the objective was evaluate the response of Acrocomia aculeata, in first grown year, for different nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium after planting, divided in three applications during the rainy season (spring and summer), in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The experiments were carried out in 2011/2012 years in three cities, with planting in March 2011: Patos de Minas (18º31’23.53” S, 46º26’33.64”W); Felixlândia (18º46’49.84” S, 44º55’39.82” W); and Nova Porteirinha (15º48’33.32” S, 43º17’44.41” W). In planting of seedlings was made a fertilizer with single superphosphate of 400 kg ha^-1 (90 kg ha^-1 of P₂O₅). The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. The treatments consisted of a triple factorial (3 x 3 x 3), corresponding to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P₂O₅) and potassium (K₂O) levels (0, 50 and 100 g plant^-1), been applications between November 2011 and March 2012. The plots consisted of 4 plants, spaced at 6 m, forming equilateral triangles in area. Were determined, in May 2012, leaves per plant, colon diameter (mm) and height of plants (cm). In Patos de Minas the plants responded to nitrogen application for leaves per plant (y = -0.0001x² + 0.0207x + 2.3667; R² = 1); colon diameter (y = 0.0823x + 16.203; R² = 0.9276) and height of plants (y = 0.3837x + 68.999; R² = 0.9560). There were responses to nitrogen application also in Felixlândia (y = -0.0039x² + 0.5033x + 79.685 R² = 1) and Nova Porteirinha (y = 0,1134x + 77,041; R²= 0,991), both only in height plant.

LORENZI, G.M.A.C. Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart. – Arecacea: bases para o extrativismo sustentável. 2006. 154 p. Tese (Doutorado em Agronomia) – Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba.

MOURA, E.F.; VENTRELLA, M.C.; MOTOIKE, S.Y. Anatomy, histochemistry and ultrastruture of seed and somatic embryo of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae). Scientia Agricola.v. 67, n. 4, p. 399-407. 2010.

PIMENTEL, L.D.; BRUCKNER, C.H.; MARTINEZ, H.E.P.; TEIXEIRA, C.M.; MOTOIKE, S.Y.; PEDROSO NETO, J.C. Recomendação de adubação e calagem para o cultivo da macaúba: 1ª aproximação. In: EMPRESA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA DE MINAS GERAIS. Informe agropecuário – Macaúba: potencial e sustentabilidade para o biodiesel. Belo Horizonte, 2011. (Informe Agropecuário).