The experiment was carried out in greenhouse at the FCAV/Unesp, Jaboticabal-SP during the period of November 2005 to January 2007. The objective of this study was to evaluate development components and nutritional status of seedlings of 'Valencia' (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) sweet orange grafted on 'Cravo' lemon rootstock (Citrus limonia Osbeck), in response to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium levels. The experimental design was entirely randomized, in factorial scheme 3³ + 1, being 3 factors (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium -NPK), 3 levels and a control (without fertilization) with 3 replications. The experimental unit constituted of a 'Valencia' sweet orange grafted on 'Cravo' lemon rootstock in a plastic bag with 2,5 kg of substratum. The treatments consisted of half, one, and two times the standard recommended dose for production of orange seedlings (4,590, 920, and 4,380 mg bag-1 of N, P, and K, respectively). Fertilization with N and K was carried out by three weekly fertirrigations, and the P was added to the substratum of Pinus spp. bark and vermiculite before sowing. After 424 days, the plants were subdivided in roots and aerial parts for determination of dry matter, height, leaf area, diameter of stem, and nutrient content. Fertilization with N, P, and K provided for greater development and greater accumulation of these macronutrients in the aerial part and root of the 'Valencia' sweet orange grafted on 'Cravo' lemon rootstock. There was adequate development of the plants with half the recommended dose of N, P, and K according to literature, approximately of 918, 184, and 876 mg dm-3 of N, P, and K, respectively. Satisfactory development was obtained with half the recommended dose of N, P and K, in general. Slightly greater development occurred in the recommended dose of 4,590, 920, and 4,380 mg bag-1 or 918, 184, and 876 mg dm-3 of substratum, respectively.
Nutritional status; seedlings; citrus; Citrus limonia; Citrus sinensis
