Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo.2024;48:e0230050.
Seasonal variation of nutrients in macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata) leaves and sampling time definition
Otto Herbert Schuhmacher Dietrich 
, Junia Maria Clemente , Márcia Adriana Carvalho dos Santos , Kacilda Naomi Kuki , Angélica Fátima de Barros , Leonardo Duarte Pimentel
10/jun/2024
DOI: 10.36783/18069657rbcs20230050
Destaques
Leaf nutrient contents in macaw palm were evaluated over a year.
Contents of N, P, K, Ca, S, Mn and Fe varied throughout the crop year.
May and June are adequate to sample leaves of macaw palm.
N, S and Ca contents mostly contributed to variation in the sampling time.
ABSTRACT
Macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata) is a widespread tree in Brazil, and the oil industry has been increasing interest in this tree due to its high oil concentrations, rusticity, and adaptability to different environments. Currently, macaw palms are being domesticated and are in an early rational cultivation process. Foliar diagnosis can contribute to managing fertilization, but there is no protocol for leaf sampling. This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal variation of leaf nutrient contents and indicate an adequate period for leaf sampling. Leaf contents of macro (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and micronutrients (Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn) from composed samples of leaflets collected from the middle part of the tenth leaf were evaluated in 12 uninterrupted sampling times (January to December 2016). The data were submitted to analysis of variance. The distance from Mahalanobis and Tocher optimization methods was used to group sampling times of similar seasonal variations. Contents of N, P, K, Ca, S, Mn and Fe varied throughout the months. May and June are adequate to sample diagnostic leaves of macaw palm to analyze the nutritional status. Seasonal variation of N, S and Ca mostly contributed to the indication of leaf sampling time of macaw palm.
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