Evaluación del estado nutricional de las plantas de Croton thurifer y su correlación con los contenidos de nutrientes del suelo de una gradiente altitudinal en matorral seco del cantón Catamayo al sur del Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract: The main objective of the present study was to determine the nutritional status of Croton thurifer plants and their correlation with soil nutrients. For this purpose, 40 leaf samples and 80 soil samples (at a depth of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) obtained in an altitudinal gradient of 1200, 1400, 1600 and 1800 meters above sea level were analyzed in the province of Loja. South of Ecuador. The contents of macro and micro nutrients in the plant and soils were determined by spectrophotometry of flame absorption and ultra violet visible, the parameters that were determined were: N, P, K, Al, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na, Fe, and Cu. At the end of the analysis, the main results are high concentrations of foliar nitrogen in contrast phosphorus in soil and the lowest concentrations are copper and zinc in foliar and magnesium in soils. On the other hand, the soil-plant correlations varied in each altitudinal floor, being significant positive and other significant negative.