'Valencia' sweet orange nursery trees (Citrus sinensis) budded on Rangpur lime rootstocks (C. limonia) were grown in containers using pine bark, vermiculite and perlite as substracts with the objective of evaluating the NPK fertilization effect on macronutrient levels. The experiment was a complete (1/5) 5³ factorial randomized block design. Treatments comprised five concentrations in g per plant of N: 1.25; 6.25; 11.25; 16.25; 21.25; five concnetrations of K: 0.42; 3.75; 6.22; 9.34; 12.45; and five concentration of P: 0.19; 0.89; 1.59; 2.29; 2.99. Nitrogen and K were applieded weekly, and 37.5% of the total fertilization was applied to rootstocks. All P was supplied at planting. Young and old leaves, root and stem total nutrient concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and NPK accumulation were evaluated. Tissue N concentration was directly and P and K concentrations were inversely related to nitrogen fertilization. Calcium, Mg and S concentrations increased up to the intermediate N fertilization rates. K fertilizer inhibited Ca and Mg absorption by plants. Rootstock NPK accumulated as 30% in roots and 70% in shoot.
Citrus sinensis; Citrus limonia; response function; mineral nutrition