INITIAL GROWTH AND NUTRITIONAL CONTENT OF YELLOW PASSION FRUIT SUBJECTED TO FERTILIZATION WITH DIFFERENT NITROGEN SOURCES

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different nitrogen sources, on the early development and on the leaves nutrient content of yellow passion fruit. An experiment was conducted in randomized block design with four replications in a 4X5 factorial, four sources of nitrogen (manure, cattle manure + ammonium sulfate, cattle manure + ammonium nitrate + urea and cattle manure) and five stages of plants collection (66, 82, 98, 111 and 127 days after sowing). Plants were conducted in 30 dm(3) pots under greenhouse conditions. The treatment containing only manure showed a lower number of leaves per plant, reduced leaf area, reduced shoot dry mass, lower SPAD index and lower levels of N and Mg, when compared with other treatments. Concerning root dry mass, plants subjected to treatment with only manure showed superior results.