The micronutrients copper and zinc are important for good vegetative growth and for grain formation in cereals. An experiment was carried out aiming to evaluate the effect of copper and zinc application upon growth attributes of sorghum and upon its grain yield. A randomized block experimental design was used, with a combination of five doses of copper (0, 0.26, 0.90, 1.54 and 1.80 mg kg-1) and five doses of zinc (0, 0.32, 1.1, 1.88 and 2.2 mg kg-1) combined by Box Central Composite design, resulting in nine treatments which were applied in three soil classes (Latosol, Alfisol and Entisol), with three replications. Ninety six days after sowing, growth attributes and sorghum yield were determined. The copper application increased leaf area, stem diameter, panicle length and diameter, dry matter yield and grain yield, however the same results were not observed for zinc application. The foliar concentrations of copper and zinc presented negative interactions between the applied doses. Alfisol was the soil most influenced by nutrient application.
Sorghum bicolor; micronutrients; mineral nutrition
