NUTRITION OF 'FLYING DRAGON', A CITRUS ROOTSTOCK

In Brazil, the use of the trifoliate 'Flying Dragon' as rootstock for citrus has grown when seeking orchards with high densities, due mainly to induce dwarfism to most varieties of compatible canopy. However, by having slow development, there is a need to better study the growth of this rootstock. Nutrition is an important tool that aims to accelerate growth, improve the quality and vigor of the plants. Thus it was evaluated the nutrient application in the growth of the rootstock in three experiments. In the first experiment we used six doses of N splitted, in the second six doses of P (total dose applied, mixed directly into the substrate), and the third, six doses of K splitted. The six doses were set by: D0 = control without fertilization; D1 = half standard dose; D2 = the standard dose (920 mg dm(-3) of N, 790 mg dm(-3) of K and 100 mg dm(-3) of P), D3 = one and a half standard dose; D4 = twice the standard dose, and D5 = two and a half times the standard dose. Then it was collected biometric data of plant height and diameter, fortnightly, and data of the dry mass of shoots and roots, monthly. The experimental design was completely randomized with subdivided parcels. Nitrogen plays a fundamental role in the increase of dry mass of root and shoot.