ABSTRACT
The present study aims to evaluate monthly the mineral nutrition presented by the population of Ouratea spectabilis (Mart.) Engl. in different phenophases, from August of 1995 to July of 1996, in a cerrado area of the Reserva Biológica e Estação Experimental de Mogi-Guaçu, located at Mogi-Guaçu City, São Paulo. All the macro elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) were analyzed on leaves, branches, flowers and fruits compartments, and in 3 leaf development stages. The phenological studies were made monthly in 20 specimens distributed in the cerrado area and phenophases variation (leaf flushing, leaf fall, flowering and fruiting) were analyzed quantitatively. The distribution of the mineral elements among the sampled vegetative parts revealed significant differences and a well defined seasonal pattern, which allows to identify the importance of each nutrient in different developmental phase of the plant, and it suggest about the mineral translocation capacity and its nutritional status. In face of these facts, O. spectabilis shows significant efficiency in water and nutrient utilization, reflecting in distribution and phenological patterns that guarantees its survival in cerrado’s environments.
Keywords:
mineral nutrition; macronutrient; phenology; cerrado