Abstract

GUERRERO-POLANCO, Federico et al. Fertilization with potassium nitrate and fruit production in ‘Hass’ avocado (Persea americana Mill.). Acta Agron. [online]. 2018, vol.67, n.3, pp.425-430. ISSN 0120-2812.  https://doi.org/10.15446/acag.v67n3.68858.

The aim was to quantify the effect of potassium nitrate (KNO3) on fruit production and canopy volume in Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill.). In Tepic (21° 33’ N y 104° 57’ O), Nayarit. México, from September 2014 to September 2015, a randomized block experiment with ten replicates and 3x2 factorial treatments was established, where factor A was three doses of KNO3: 0, 230, 460 and 690 g per tree; the factor B consisted of the humidity conditions (irrigation and temporal). In different phenological stages the foliar concentration of N and K was quantified and both were correlated; nutrient extraction of K and N in fruit (g), and canopy volume (m3) were quantified. The variables of fruit production, canopy volume and nutrient extraction by fruit showed statistically significant differences under irrigation conditions, being the dose of 690 g of KNO3 which showed higher values. It is concluded that fertilization with KNO3 had a positive effect on fruit production per tree (kg), both under the condition of rainy and irrigation, the increase production was 59 % and 73 % respectively, compared to the control; the effect was greater under irrigation condition which indicates that nitrogen and potassium are more dynamic in the soil-plant system when moisture is available. In the system with irrigation, a positive correlation was observed between the foliar concentration of N and K, which finally favored a higher production.

Keywords : Nutrient extraction; Avocado Hass trees; Nutrition; Irrigation; Nitrógeno; Potasio.

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