Macro and micronutrients uptake in biomass sorghum

Abstract

Biomass sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a very promising renewable source to produce energy obtained by cogeneration and fermentation processes. However, some aspects of the fertilizer management for this crop should be better understood. This study aimed to determine the accumulation progress of dry matter and macro and micronutrients in phenological stages of the biomass sorghum (Palo Alto 2562) crop, as well as to establish the accumulation order. The experiment was performed in a randomized block design, with four replicates. In order to determine the dry matter and nutrient accumulation curves, the plants were sampled in nine phenological stages (V1, V3, V5, V7, V9, V11, booting, flowering and harvest). Dry matter and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn accumulations were analyzed. The maximum dry matter accumulation was 24,853 kg ha^-1. K was the nutrient absorbed in the highest amount (447 kg ha^-1), what demonstrates the high capacity of the plant to absorb this nutrient. N was the second most accumulated nutrient by the plant (289 kg ha^-1) and its absorption pattern suggests that it should be supplied up to the V7 stage. It was also possible to conclude that the order of extraction and accumulation of macro and micronutrients for the biomass sorghum crops is: K > N > Ca > Mg > S > P > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu.