A nutrient solution experiment with was carried out in a greenhouse with the objective of verifying the specific effects of calcium and aluminum toxicity on black pepper seedlings. The treatments were set up in three concentrations of calcium (10; 40 and 160 mg L-1) added as CaCl2 in combination with three concentrations of aluminum (0; 10 and 20 mg L-1) added as AlCl3. 6 H2O. The nutrient solution contained the following ion concentrations in mg L-1: N-NO3 (80,5); N-NH4 (10,5); P(1,5); K(39,0); Mg(24,0); S-SO4(32,0); B(0,5); Cu(0,06); Fe(5,0); Mn(1,0); Mo(0,03) and Zn(0,10). The treatments with aluminum reduced black pepper growth and the diameter of roots increased. Calcium absorption increased with the increase of calcium concentration in the solution, in the absence of aluminum. Calcium absorption by roots decreased with the increase of the concentration of aluminum in the solution. Aluminum absorption decreased with the increase of the concentration of calcium in the solution.
Piper nigrum; aluminum of toxicity; calcium; nutrition
