Nutrient uptake of pepino plants in soilless cultivation

Abstract

This study addresses vegetative growth and the uptake of nutrients and their accumulation in the vegetative and reproductive tissues of pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.). The study was conducted in soilless plastic house conditions, with a planting density equivalent to 25 000 plants ha(-1) during two seasons (1997-98 and 1998-99). The plants were sampled, fractionated into leaves, stems, fruits and roots, then dried and weighed and the macronutrient content was analysed every 30 d for 300 d after transplanting. The yield obtained was 2 kg of fruit per plant, which is 30% of the total dry weight. The relative growth rate (RGR) ranged from 0.0028 to 0.0451 d(-1). The highest N, K, Ca and Mg concentrations were recorded in the leaves, and the highest P concentration in the roots. The nutrient accumulation of this yield was 10.64, 1.12, 16.06, 10.0 and 1.58 g of N, P, K, Ca and Mg per plant respectively. The highest accumulation of all nutrients was found in the leaves. The nutrient with the highest specific uptake rate was K, which ranged from 0.0037 to 0.0838 g g(-1) d(-1).