Controlled Release Fertilizers Affect Croton Production

The fertilizer management is an essential step in the production process, because allows the use as much of plant productive capacity. Thus, maximum improvement of nutrients by plants and lower losses are topics of studies aiming to increase productivity by reducing environmental impacts. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate different sources and doses of controlled release commercial fertilizer (CRF) on growth of croton. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse during the period of August, 2013 and January, 2014. The experimental design was in block randomized and treatments two sources of CRF (Osmocote and Basacote) with four doses (1,5, 3,0, 4,5 and 6,0 gL^-1 of substrate) of it one, water soluble fertilizer and no fertilizer, entering 10 treatments. The cultivation carried out in plastic pots 4L, containing substrate prepared with pine bark and doses of fertilizer previously added to the substrate at planting. Each block included two replicate (or container) of each treatment for all variable measured for each sample data. Over the course of 5 months data were collected for all measurement variables from destructively sampled containers, every 30 days. The evaluated characteristics were number of leaves, number of nodes, leaf area, height of stem and dry mass of leaves, branches and roots. Plants grown in less doses of CRF were similar to treatment with nutrient solution as obtained highest means for all traits. The plants of treatments with 6,0gL-1 and without fertilization had impaired growth. Therefore, our results support the hypothesis that FLC can improve effectiveness of crop production compared to the conventional system and showed particular promise in the production of ornamental plants in containers.