Nutrient absorption in Tithonia Diversifolia

Univ. Sci. 24 (1): 33-48, 2019. doi: 10.11144/Javeriana.SC24-1.nait Bogotá original article Nutrient absorption in Tithonia Diversifolia Julián Mauricio Botero Londoño1, 2*, Arnulfo Gómez Carabali2, Mónica Andrea Botero Londoño3 Edited by Juan Carlos Salcedo-Reyes () 1. Universidad Industrial de Santander, Facultad de Zootecnia, Grupo de Investigación GISEL, Campus Málaga, Málaga, Santander, Colombia, Postal Code 682011. 2. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Grupo de Investigación en uso y manejo de suelos y aguas con énfasis en degradación de suelos, Carrera 32 # 12 – 00, Palmira, Valle, Colombia, Postal Code 763533. 3. Universidad Industrial de Santander, Facultad de Ingenierías Fisicomecánicas, Escuela de Ingenierías Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Telecomunicaciones, Grupo de Investigación GISEL, Carrera 27 Calle 9, Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia, Postal Code 680002. Abstract Tithonia diversifolia is a robust shrub that has high ecological plasticity and adaptability, high capacity of nutrient absorption and high nutrient contents. These characteristics make Tithonia diversifolia be considered as a multi-purpose plant, such as for animal feed, soil decontamination and soil restorer. Likewise, it is a plant with high ecological plasticity and adaptability. The study of the nutrient absorption and the fertilization represent an important advance in the development of productive systems focused on maximizing forage productivity, which guarantees the soil sustainability. Based on this, a split plot design was conducted to study the effects of different levels of fertilization. The results showed an impact of the elements and levels of fertilization on the nutrient absorption capacity, finding that the elements that were incorporated in the fertilization increase the foliar contents and the nutrient absorption in the plant. Keywords: agroforestry systems, fertilization, pastures and fodder. * Received: 14-02-2018 Accepted: 16-11-2018 Published on line: 05-02-2019 Citation: Botero Londoño JM, Gómez Carabali A, Botero Londoño MA. Nutrient absorption in Tithonia diversifolia, Universitas Scientiarum, 24 (1): 33-48, 2019. doi: 10.11144/Javeriana.SC24-1.nait Funding: Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Electronic supplementary material: N.A. Introduction The Tithonia diversifolia is an herbaceous plant or robust shrubby that belongs to the Plantae, Tracheobionta Subrein (vascular plants), Magnoliophyta Division (plants with flower), Magnoliopsida Class (dicotyledonous), Asteridae Subclass, Asterales Order and Asteraceae family [1]. Several authors have discussed the characteristics of this plant. First, Luo et al. [2] describe the Tithonia diversifolia as an invasive plant and label it as a threat to biodiversity in the areas introduced due to its rapid and easy spread, since it grows quickly even under unfavorable conditions, multiplies easily by stakes, can withstand pruning at ground level and burning, possesses high nutrients absorption capability, Universitas Scientiarum, Journal of the Faculty of Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License 34 Nutrient absorption adapts to different climate conditions and develops in a high range of soil [3, 4]. Second, Pérez et al [1] define it as a specie with high biomass production capacity and rapid recovery after cutting. Last, Reis et al [5] found that with the application of biofertilizers to Tithonia diversifolia, soil characteristics were improved significantly, and the accumulation of nutrients in the plant was greater. The establishment of forages increases the cation exchange capacity of the soil, maintains and increases the mesofauna, contributes to the recycling of nutrients and the mineralization of phosphorus and nitrogen, optimizes the biological cycle of carbon, improves soil structure, controls erosion, protects against soil overheating and over-cooling and is an effective mechanism for capturing and retaining atmosphere carbon [6, 7, 8]. The basis for the efficient development of crops and soil management is built on the balance of minerals required by the plant, the contribution of the soil and the nutrients provided in the fertilization. Ensuring the supply of nutrients required by the plant based on soil deficiencies guarantees crop productivity and its sustainability [9]. The nutrient absorption capacity of the plant depends on its root system and the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil [10]. The knowledge of the nutritional requirements for the plant and the development of fertilization systems guarantee the maximum productivity of the crops and their sustainment over time [11]. Soil does not contain the adequate balance of nutrients for all plants, making it impossible to express their productive capacity [12]. Interpretation of soil analysis based on the contributions estimated by this and the requirements of the plant is the basis for the efficient development of crops and soil management, which warrants the productivity of the crop and the support of the soil [9]. The concentration of nutrients in the plant depends on several factors: the contribution in nutrients of the soil, nature of the plant and state of maturity of the plant. Some plants have the ability to retain high concentrations of certain elements [13], thus, knowing the ability of the plant to accumulate certain elements is essential in the development of crops for specific production purposes. In this research, the effect of different levels of fertilization on foliar contents and nutrient absorption of Tithonia diversifolia was determined. This paper evaluates the efficiencies of the nutrient absorption, foliar contents with different level of fertilization per plant cut from Tithonia diversifolia. The project was developed in an andisol soil of the Colombian Eje Cafetero. The treatments were determined based on fertilization levels, defined from the interpretation of soil analysis and the initial nutrient absorption per plant cut Universitas Scientiarum Vol. 24 (1): 33-48 http://ciencias.javeriana.edu.co/investigacion/universitas-scientiarum 35 Botero Londoño et al. 2019 from Tithonia diversifolia. The results show that the elements introduced in the fertilization (N-P-K) increases their concentration and their foliar content in the plants as fertilization increases as well. Materials and methods Project location The project was developed in an andisol soil of the Colombian Eje Cafetero, at La Esmeralda farm in the department of Quindío, Colombia, located at 4 ◦ and 38’ 24" North Latitude and 75 ◦ and 38’ 26" West Longitude at 1 680 masl, with rainfall between 2 000 and 3 000 mm per year and an average temperature of 19 ◦ C. Soil charactetistics The soils presented acid pH values of 5.2 to 5.4, with high contents of organic matter (8.7 - 10). The average con (...truncated)