Relation between nickel and mineral elements in three phenological stages of pecan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a13nVI.5008Keywords:
Dynamics, essential, interaction, nutrients, regressionAbstract
Nickel (Ni) is an essential micronutrient for plants. In pecan trees, its function is related to the activation of the urease enzyme, preventing urea accumulation and the appearance of necrotic spots on the leaves. This study evaluated the crop's nutritional dynamics in response to foliar application of different Ni concentrations, as well as its effect on leaf area. A completely randomized design was used with five treatments (100, 150, 200, and 250 mg L-1 of Ni, plus a control with no application) and five replicates. Ten mineral elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Na and Ni) were analyzed at three phenological stages: pre-flowering, fruit growth, and nut water content. The results revealed significant relationships between Ni and the elements N, Zn, Mn, and Cu, especially during fruit growth, a stage in which increased Ni uptake inhibited the assimilation of these nutrients. In contrast, calcium showed an increase proportional to the applied Ni doses. No relationships were observed with K, Mg and Na. Leaf area showed an increasing trend with increasing Ni, reaching a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.923. The dose of 150 mg L-1 resulted in the highest leaf area value (321.29 cm2), suggesting a moderate positive effect of Ni on walnut leaf development.
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