Nitrogen uptake by ornamental bromeliad during atmospheric and tank developmental stages

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth of atmospheric (tankless-bromeliad) and tank (tank-bromeliad) developmental stages of silver vase bromeliad (Aechmea fasciata) as a function of nutrition with different sources and concentrations of nitrogen. The experiment consisted of the fertilization of atmospheric and tank stages of silver vase bromeliad with 50 mL of Hoagland and Arnon n. 1 (1950) solution, supplemented with 0, 15, 30 or 45 mM N of urea, ammonium nitrate or glutamine as nitrogen sources. After 210 days of experimentation, tank and atmospheric stages of silver vase bromeliad did not show significant differences for the variables plant height, rosette and stem diameter, leaf and total fresh mass, and root, leaf and total dry matter masses. Both stages have grown better with 15 mM N of ammonium nitrate and urea, while 45 mM of all N sources were deleterious. Glutamine in the tank occasioned the presence of a film and dark spots lowing the ornamental quality. The agronomic nitrogen use efficiency showed that tank stage use N more efficiently, when fertilized with inorganic form, while atmospheric stage is indifferent for N source.