Fertilidad del suelo y calidad nutricional de estacas de yuca (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

A study was conducted on the changes in nutritional content of cassava stems as a result of different soil fertilization levels, and on the effect of the stakes obtained from these stems on the subsequent crop. Results showed that the mother plants had different height and vigor depending on the 9 different nutritional levels of fertilizer application to the soils where they were grown. Stems of each of the 9 treatments produced stakes with different weights. Both the concentration ami the N-P-K content varied considerably depending on the fertilization treatment. These two parameters were lower when the amount of nutrient applied to the soil was lower. Germination percentage was strongly influenced by the level of K application as well as by its balance with N and P. The lowest germination percentage was registered by the treatment that received no K, but which had received a high level of N and P, which caused an disequilibrium in absorption of the elements. Germination potential was not affected by having planted the stakes in soils with or without fertilizer application, since what is important for this process was the amount of nutritional reserves that the stakes already brought with them, Stakes coming from plots with the highest level of N-PK application became plants with greater production of foliage and stems that were apt to be used as vegetative seed. These stakes also resulted in plants with greater total rood yield and greater production of commercial size roots.<br>&lt;p&gt;Se estudió el cambio en el contenido nutricional de los tallos de yuca ocasionado por diferentes niveles de fertilización al suelo y el efecto de las estacas obtenidas de esos tallos sobre el cultivo subsiguiente. Los 9 niveles nutricionales del suelo incidieron en la altura y vigor de las plantas madres. Tanto la concentración como el contenido de N-P-K variaron notablemente según el nivel de fertilización utilizado, siendo más bajos entre más baja fuera la cantidad de cada nutrimento aplicada. La germinación más baja ocurrió con potasio o niveles altos de N y de P. La siembra del material en un suelo con o sin fertilizante no incidió en su capacidad de germinación debido al efecto de las reservas nutricionales de la estaca. La mayor producción de follaje y de tallos aptos para usar como material de siembra, el mayor rendimiento de raíces totales y la mayor producción de raíces de tamaño comercial se obtuvieron utilizando estacas provenientes de las parcelas a las cuales se aplicaron los niveles más altos de N-P-K.&lt;/p&gt;