Influence of different levels of aluminum on the development of two citrus rootstocks in nutrient solution on the micronutrient contents

Abstract

The influence of different levels of aluminum on the micronutrient contents of the rootstocks Rangpur lime and Swingle citrumelo was studied in nutritive solution. The experiment was carried out under green house at the Department of Soil Science of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences - Unesp/Botucatu-SP. The treatments followed a completely randomized experimental design, with 3 replications, distributed in split-splots. The levels of aluminum were: 0.0, 7.5, 15.0, 22.5 and 30.0mg L^-1, in the form of AlCl₃.6H₂O. The nutrient contents of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and Al in the plants dry matter were evaluated. Under the conditions of the present study the results showed that Swingle citrumelo was more sensitive than Rangpur lime rootstock to aluminum concentrations. The reductions in the micronutrient contents was noticed for Swingle citrumelo when the Al concentration was 7,5mg L^-1. On the other hand, for Rangpur lime the micronutrient contents were not affected by aluminum concentrations.