Application of Wood Ash, Organomineral and Mineral Fertilizers to Increase the Growth of Arugula (Eruca sativa Miller) at Different Base Saturation on Oxisol

Abstract

The objective of this study was evaluating the production of arugula fertilized with wood ash, organomineral fertilizer (wood ash + mineral fertilizer) and mineral fertilizer in function of the base saturation levels in Oxisol. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse using the completely randomized experimental design with eight treatments, as follows: T1 - wood ash at 50% of BS; T2 - wood ash at 80% of BS; T3 - wood ash + mineral fertilizers at 50% of BS; T4 - wood ash + mineral fertilizers at 80% of BS; T5 - mineral fertilizers at 50% of BS; T6 - mineral fertilizers at 80% of BS; T7 - control (limed for 50% of BS) and T8 - control (limed for 80% of BS) and four replications. The experimental units consisted of a 2 dm3soil pot. pH of the soil 30 days after incubation with limestone and wood ash was evaluated for all treatments. At 30 days after emergence of plants the chlorophyll index, fresh and dry mass of shoot, dry mass of root and evapotranspiration of the arugula were evaluated. The highest values of pH of the soil were observed in the treatments at 80% of BS. Generally, the higher of shoot fresh and dry mass were obtained by application of mineral and wood ash combined with mineral fertilizers (organomineral fertilizer). The higher of root dry mass was obtained by minerally fertilized plots at 80% of BS. Compared to wood ash fertilized plots only, the minerally fertilized plots followed by the wood ash and mineral treated plot provided the highest of chlorophyll index, shoot fresh and dry mass and root dry mass of the arugula plants. For the mineral or organomineral fertilizer, arugula could be grown at a base saturation of 80% and 50%, respectively.