Slow-release fertilizer and hydrogel on the initial growth of camu-camu under different water conditions in a Savannah soil

During the process of adapting camu-camu on dry land, the fertilization management in local water conditions must be considered with tests of technologies available for cultivation. To that end, the objective was evaluating the effects of the fertilization with slow-release fertilizer (SRF) and hydrogel on the initial growth of camu-camu plants under different water conditions, in two consecutive experiments. In the first one, we evaluated the leaf mortality in two plant sizes (from 15 to 25 cm and from 35 to 45 cm), two hydrogel levels (presence and absence) and different hole fertilizations [A1 - conventional fertilization - FC - (313 g of super simple +37 g of urea +41 g of KCl), A2 (357 g of SRF +35 g of KCl), A3 (268 g SRF +26 g of KCl), A4 (179 g SRF +18 g of KCl) and A5 (89 g of SRF +9 g of KCl)], under water deficit conditions. In the second experiment, the initial growth of larger plants was evaluated by using the same treatments for two years with water availability. Under water deficit, fertilizers A2 and A3, associated with hydrogel, were very damaging to the leaf growth, especially in plants with height values lesser than 25 cm. With water availability, using FC and A2 associated with hydrogel, and A4 and A5 in the hydrogel absence, favored the plant growth and the supply of chlorophyll 'b'. Applying SRF in adequate amounts is effective on the initial growth of camu-camu plants in the Savannah soil from Roraima.