Effects of planting dates on growth and nutrient accumulation of carrots in the brazilian semi-arid

Fertilization plays an important role on carrot’s yield, root quality, storage, plant growth and on the environment. It was aimed to evaluate the plant growth and macronutrients accumulation of carrot cultivars as a function of two planting dates, under high temperatures in the Brazilian semi-arid. The experiments were carried out in randomized blocks design, with ten treatments and four repetitions. Treatments consisted of ten carrot cultivars sowed in two Planting dates. The characteristics that were evaluated were: plant growth (plant height, number of leaves, plant dry matter accumulation, mean fresh mass of the root) and macronutrient accumulation (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in plant, leaves and root. Plant’s mean height ranged from 42.53 cm (Melinda) to 49.25 cm (Nativa); the highest plant dry matter was obtained by BRS Planalto (12.36 g) and Kuronan (12.18 g); the mean number of leaves was the lowest in Melinda and Nativa: 8.64 and 7.64 leaves plant-1. The root’s fresh weight had a significant decrease among the planting dates for the Brasília, Francine and Suprema cultivars. The nutrient accumulation varied accordingly to the planting date and cultivar.