USO DE FERTILIZANTE FOLIAR SILICATADO NA PRODUÇÃO DE CAPUCHINHA (Tropaeolum majus)

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of silicate fertilizer on the development of nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus), a species of recognized ornamental and functional value. The experiment was conducted at the Instituto Federal Goiano – Campus Cristalina, in a completely randomized design, with three treatments (no fertilizer application, single-dose application, and split-dose application) and seven replications. The variables analyzed were number of leaves, number of nodes, number of flowers, fresh mass of shoots and roots, and dry mass of shoots and roots. The results demonstrated that the treatment with singledose application of silicate fertilizer promoted significant increases in vegetative and reproductive parameters, standing out for greater vigor, higher number of leaves and nodes, as well as increased flower production. Greater accumulation of fresh and dry shoot biomass was also observed, evidencing the positive effect of silicon on the growth and reproduction of the species. It is concluded that nasturtium is responsive to foliar silicate fertilization, showing significant gains in growth and reproduction during the initial cultivation cycle. The results achieved confirm the proposed objectives and provide relevant insights for the management of the species in family and organic farming systems, in addition to expanding its ornamentais and food potential as a non-conventional plant.