Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization Promotes Aerial Part Development and Affect Nutrient Uptake by Carobinha of the Brazilian Cerrado

Producing Brazilian Cerrado plants, especially ones endangered, is essential for your maintenance. In this way, fertilization is furthermore uncertain. Here, we demonstrate the impact of soil addition of nitrogen (N, 4.20, 18.90, 31.50, 44.10 and 59.85 mg·dm) and phosphorus (P, 9.56, 57.38, 95.62, 133.86 and 181.67 mg·dm) fertilizers levels on the development and on nutrients uptake by Jacaranda decurrens subsp. symmetrifoliolata (carobinha), species of the Brazilian Cerrado, in a long term pot trial. The N and P addition together increased plant height and N concentration in roots. N and P also increased the P concentration and content on the roots in young plants, but in the older plants, isolated effect of both was stronger than their combined action. The N addition promoted branching, production of dry leaves and dry xylopodium, contents of K, Ca and P on the leaves, and N content on the roots. However, the N reduced xylopodium diameter, leaf area, and Mg contents in the young plants, but increased them in the older plants. The P addition increased stem diameter and dry biomass, P concentration and N content on the leaves, Ca content on the roots and also reduced N concentration on the leaves. However, the P addition increased Mg concentration on the roots in the young plants and reduced it in the older plants. In general, N levels ranging between 25.69 38.85 mg·dm and P levels between 84.39 109.23 mg·dm promote more effectively the plant development. Thus, N and P fertilization can promote the aerial development of plant and a differential allocation of nutrients between the carobinha tissues. How to cite this paper: Gonçalves, W.V., do Carmo Vieira, M., de Oliveira Carnevali, T., Zárate, N.A.H., Aran, H.D.V.R. and Mineli, K.C.S. (2017) Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization Promotes Aerial Part Development and Affect Nutrient Uptake by Carobinha of the Brazilian Cerrado. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 8, 3377-3398. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2017.813227 Received: October 3, 2017 Accepted: December 16, 2017 Published: December 19, 2017 Copyright © 2017 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/


Introduction
Even though the flora of the Brazilian Cerrado is rich in economically important species, their cultivation is still incipient.An aggravating factor is that many of them are endangered, either due to deforestation or because of indiscriminate exploitation, without an appropriate crop management [1] [2].The use of the roots of these species in traditional medicine increases their risk of extinction.
The subject of study in the present work was the carobinha (Jacaranda decurrens subsp.symmetrifoliolata, Bignoniaceae) [3], an underbush species that occurs exclusively in the south of the Mato Grosso do Sul State [4].The folk medicine indicates their roots as blood depurative, in the healing of uterine and ovarian wounds, and in the treatment of rheumatic problems and dysentery.Recently reports indicate the anti-inflammatory effect of the carobinha roots and the anti-oxidative, anti-tumoral and anti-obesity activities of its leaves [5] [6] [7].
Soil enrichment with nutrients may promote or delay the development of native species in the Brazilian Cerrado [8].N and P play an important role in such responses [9] [10].In the weathered soils of this ecosystem, P is one of the most limiting factors [11].In the plant, P is essential in the supply of energy and in the composition of RNA, DNA, and photosynthesis and respiration derived sugars.Besides, it is a crucial component of the cellular membrane [12].[13] also showed that fertilization with inorganic P may promote growth and leaf and root production in the carobinha.In turn, N composes the structure of amino acids and nucleic acids, being quantitatively the nutrient that is most required by plants [12].In general, N increases potassium (K) demands and P uptake in the plant.Furthermore, it increases the amounts of sulfur (S) needed for amino acid synthesis [14].However, an excessive application of N may lead to K deficiency and reduced calcium (Ca) levels [15], and ammonium ( 4 NH + ) addition to the soil may increase its acidity [16].Therefore, the balanced addition of N and P is essential for the correct balancing of plant development and nutrient uptake [17] [18].
Based on the exposed situation, we investigated the effect of soil fertilization with N and P on the development and nutrients uptake by the carobinha.

Protected Growth
The experiment was carried out between April 2012 and June 2014, under a 2 m × 2 m (height, width) tunnel with 50% shading and a plastic roof, locate at 22˚11'44.45''Slatitude, 54˚56'07.31 After incubation, one 70-day-old carobinha plantlet was transferred to each vase.Total P was applied on the same day; 40% N and K were added 30 days later; and the remaining was applied 60 (30%) and 90 (30%) days after transplanting (DAT).At 151 DAT, 0.15 mL of a 1.2 kg L −1 fertilization solution (60 g Ca L −1 , 12 g Mg L −1 , 24 g S L −1 , 2.4 g B L −1 , 3 g Cu L −1 , 12 g Mn L −1 , 0.432 g Mo L −1 and 12 g Zn L −1 ; Supra Mix®, Supra Fertilizantes) were added to each vase.The substrate was kept at 70% of the field capacity.
Plant height and stem diameter were measured during the experimental cycle (between 44 and 672 DAT).At 259 DAT and 770 DAT, two entire plants were harvested in order to determinate xylopodium diameter; number of leaves and branches; leaf area; and the production of leaves, stems, xylopodium, and fresh and dry roots.The material was dried in a drying oven with forced air ventilation, at 60˚C ± 5˚C, until it reached a constant weight.
The leaves and roots from each sample were grinded using a knife grinder type Willye (0.841 mm).K (flame photometry), Ca and Mg (atomic absorption spectrophotometry), total N (Kjeldahl acid digestion) and P (spectrophotometry) were determined.The nutrient contents in the tissues were calculated by multiplying the nutrient concentration by the dry mass.

Statistical Analyses
The open source software R [19] and Origin (OriginLab, Northampton, MA) were used to carry out the statistical analyses.The data vignette of R was stored in the EACS package [20].The residues were initially tested for normality; if they did not show a normal distribution, the data were transformed using the boxcox test (MASS package) [21] in order to maximize their normality.Table 1 is all transformations.We then tested the constant effect of the treatments on the dependent variables, with the random effect of the block per experimental unit, compared to the model with the random effect of the block (lme, nlme package) [22].The same model was applied to test the combined effect of N and P on plant age, considering age as variable.
Without the effect of the experimental unit, the linear models were tested (lm, lattice package) [23].We tested the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on nutrient concentration in the soil and on the leaves at 259 DAT, since at 770 DAT the amount of leaves was insufficient.The repetitions were therefore combined and only the effect of age at harvest was tested.Wireframe plots (lattice package) were used to build response surfaces and boxplots (ggplot2) were used to represent the graphs showing the effect of age at harvest [24].The logistic nonlinear model adjusted itself to the effect of evaluation time on plant height, and, the modified Hill equation [25], to the effect of plant age on stem diameter.The repetitions were taken into account in the regressions, therefore, the coefficients of determination (R 2 ) are multiple.

Effect of N and P Fertilization on Soil Chemistry
Both N (p = 0.10) and P (p = 0.52) had no effect on soil pH (CaCl 2 ).The N addition elevated of K contents (p = 0.01) and slight increased the levels of H + Al (p = 0.07).Intermediate N doses (24.85 mg•dm −3 ) increased K levels to highest (0.34 cmolc•dm −3 ) (maximum P), Figure 1(a).The regression models were not adjusted to the effect of N on H + Al (R², p = 0.59).The N addition elevated of H + Al levels up to 31.5 mg•dm −3 but, as doses increased, the levels drastically decreased.The P addition affected Mg levels (p = 0.01) and the sum of bases (p = 0.02 and p = 0.02), and more slightly Ca contents (p = 0.04 and p = 0.07), CEC (p = 0.02 and p = 0.10) and base saturation (p = 0.05 and p = 0.09).However, the regression models were not adjusted to the effect of P on Ca (R 2 , p = 0.23), the sum of bases (R 2 , p = 0.11 and p = 0.15), the CEC (R 2 , p = 0.12) and the base saturation (R 2 , p = 0.16).The proportional increase of P doses elevated the Mg contents up to a maximum of (5.39 cmol c •dm −3 ) (minimum N), Figure 1(b).The addition of N and P affected the P levels (N, p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, and P, p < 0.01 and p = 0.01) and the P recovery efficiency (N, p = 0.04 and P, p = 0.01).
Soil supplementation with P (from 11.42 mg•dm −3 until a maximum dose) and of N (until 19.32 mg•dm −3 ) resulted in the highest P contents (38.56 mg•dm −3 ), Figure 1(c).However, N and P had opposite effects on the P recovery efficiency: Table 1.Regression equations of fitted models for plant age at evaluation or harvest (H), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) effects.

Effect of Plant
The growth of the carobinha is age and season dependent.As the life cycle progresses, more stem and more branches are produced in detriment of height, with a reflection on the increased growth of the xylopodium, a storage organ important for the regrowth after the dormancy period and environmental stresses [27].This phenomenon defines the change in the growth behavior along the life cycle, justifying the formation of underground forests in native areas, with sprouts emerging from the xylopodium or from the stem base [28].The large decrease in leaf number in the older plants indicates that the deciduousness typical of the species [29] occurs even in the absence of a water deficit.Considering that the carobinha organs used in the traditional medicine are the leaves and the roots [5] [6], the best time to harvest must be taken into account, since, the older the plant, the higher root production is.On the other hand, leaf production is larger upon regrowth in summer and lower in winter.
Within the fertilizer levels tested, some traits of plant growth (plant height and stem diameter) reached their highest values for N and P as demonstrated by [17] for Acer mono.However, several traits reached their highest values only for N levels (diameter of xylopodium, leaf area and dry leaves biomass) or P levels (fresh stem) and others (dry branches and xylopodium biomass) did not reach their highest growth within the doses of N and P tested.At the beginning N probably promoted stem cellular division, since it constitutes the aminoacids required in large amount in the initial growth stages.It later promoted cell elongation and stem development [30].Larger leaf area during physiological dormancy may increase water loss, causing a hydric unbalance in the plants.The fact that fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus had no effect on root production seems to confirm that root growth does not depend on nutrient supplementation [29] [31] [32].However, in a previous study, the addition of P together with chicken manure fertilizer led to increased root production [13].In the present work, we showed that nitrogen fertilization affects the development of the aerial part in the carobinha, reflected in a higher number of leaves, whereas supplementation with P increases stem production, an interesting observation considering the change in plant growth.no effect on Ca (N, p = 0.98 and P, p = 0.80) and Mg levels (N, p = 0.85 e P, p = 0.59) in the leaves.Regarding K, the P coefficients were significant in the quadratic (p = 0.04) and quadratic root (p = 0.02) models, while the coefficients of regression determination were not (R 2 = 0.22, p = 0.21 and R 2 = 0.26, p > 0.10, respectively).Supplementation with P reduces the N levels from highest (15.20 mg•g −1 ) at the minimal P dose to lowest (12.06 mg•g −1 ) at a dose of 69.31 mg•dm −3 of P (highest N) (Figure 5(c2)).Nevertheless, the addition of P proportionally increased the P concentrations, reaching a maximum of 1.65 mg•g −1 at the highest dose (minimal N) (Figure 5(d)).

Effect of Age at Harvest and N and P Fertilization on Nutrient Uptake
In the roots, between 259 and 770 DAT, K levels decreased 50.32% (p < 0.01) Addition of N and P did not affect K (N, p = 0.36 and P, p = 0.46) or Ca levels (N, p = 0.27 and P, p = 0.81) on the roots.However, adding N increased Mg levels at 259 DAT and reduced Mg levels at 770 DAT (p = 0.03).Fertilization with P led to increased Mg levels at both harvests (p < 0.05) (Figure 6(c)).At 259 DAT, 30.03 mg•dm −3 N and the highest P dose resulted in the highest Mg levels (2.84 mg•g −1 ), while, at 770 DAT, 39.80 mg•dm −3 of N and the minimal P dose resulted in the lowest Mg levels (1.46 mg•g −1 ).Supplementation with both N (p = 0.01) and P (p = 0.04) led to increased N concentrations (Figure 6(d)); and 43.32 mg•dm −3 N and the higher P dose led to the maximum N concentrations (15.11 mg g −1 , at 259 DAT and 7.43 mg•g −1 at 770 DAT).However, P acted more expressively at the dose of 133.86 mg•dm −3 or higher.In this context, the minimal N dose and 73.70 mg•dm −3 P resulted in the lowest N levels (9.76 mg•g −1 at 259 DAT and 2.08 mg•g −1 at 770 DAT).The combined addition of N and P led to increased P concentrations at 259 DAT (Figure 6(e)); the addition of 49.97 mg•dm −3 of N and the maximum P dose increased the P concentration to its maximum (3.05 mg•g −1 ).However, at 770 DAT the isolated effect of each nutrient was stronger than their combined action.At the lowest P dose, N addition elevated P concentration from 1.04 mg•g −1 (4.20 mg•dm −3 ) to 2.97 mg g −1 (59.85 mg•dm −3 ) (p = 0.04).
In the leaves, age at harvest and N fertilization had isolated effects on content levels of K (harvest, p < 0.01 and N, p = 0.03) (Figure 7(a)) and Ca (harvest, p < 0.01 and N, p = 0.06) (Figure 7(b)).Combined, they had a slight effect on Mg contents (p = 0.09) (Figure 7(c)).Age at harvest isolated, together with N and with P addition acted on N contents (harvest, p < 0.01, N²*harvest, p = 0.09, and P²*harvest, p = 0.07) (Figure 7(d)).Age at harvest isolated, together with P, and N isolated addition acted on P contents (harvest, p < 0.01, P*harvest, p = 0.09, and N, p = 0.09) (Figure 7(e)).The increase in plants age resulted in a decrease of 85.90% in K, of 79.33% in Ca, of 88.92% in N and of 90.26% in P levels.Increasing amounts of N elevated proportionally the contents of K, Ca and P. The   1.
highest N dose led to the highest K (5.63 mg at 259 DAT and 1.61 mg at 770 DAT), Ca (88.23 mg at 259 DAT and 26.19 mg at 770 DAT).The highest N dose regardless of harvest ages led to the highest leaf P contents (19.86 mg at 259 DAT and 1.51 mg at 770 DAT) but with an increase in the P dose up to 129.33 mg•dm −3 in the younger plants (259 DAT) and to the highest P dose in the older plants (770 DAT).On the other hand, in the older plants, an increase in the N dose up to 47.24 mg•dm −3 elevated the Mg levels to a maximum of 23.72 mg (minimal P).An increment in the P dose up to 90 mg•dm −3 at 259 DAT and the minimum P dose at 770 DAT, both with maximum N dose increased the leaf N content to the highest levels (193.85 mg at 259 DAT and 5.22 mg at 770 DAT).
In the roots, age at harvest and N (p > 0.99) and P (p = 0.81) addition did not affect K contents.However, age at harvest and P addition had a slight effect on Ca contents p = 0.08) (Figure 8(a)).In the plants at 259 DAT, an increment in the P dose up to 62.52 mg•dm −3 resulted in the highest levels of radicular Ca (17.19 mg), while an increase to the maximum P dose resulted in the lowest Ca contents (10.72 mg).As the plants aged, Ca contents decreased, whereas P addition starting at a dose of 47.82 mg•dm −3 increased these levels from a minimum of 18.34 mg until a maximum of 45.18 mg at the highest P dose.On the other hand, with aging, Mg contents increased 69.57% (p = 0.01) (p = 0.01) (Figure 8(b)).The N addition affected N contents in the roots (p = 0.02) (Figure 8(c)).
However, the linear (R 2 = 0.108, p = 0.19) and quadratic root models (R 2 = 0.101, p = 0.23) were not adjusted to the effects of N. The N addition proportionally increased the levels of radicular N up to a maximum of 58.09 mg at the highest N dose.Together with age at harvest, N and P addition affected P contents (p = 0.04) (Figure 8(d)).In the plants at 259 DAT, the highest N and P doses led to the highest P levels (12.90 mg).However, the same N dose combined with the lowest P dose reduced the P contents to the minimum (2.94 mg).In the older plants (770 DAT), the lower N dose combined with the higher P dose resulted in a higher P level (55.63 mg), while the same N dose together with the lower P dose led a lower P content (9.45 mg).
The effect of fertilization or other treatments on nutrient uptake in the plant tissues depends on the combined action of each of them on the nutrient concentration and contents in the plant and on biomass production [33].When the carobinha is younger and the roots are smaller, there is Ca and Mg concentration in the roots and antagonism to P. However, as the plant ages, the root biomass increases, therefore causing a dilution of radicular Ca and Mg and P synergism in the roots.This occurs because, upon growing, the roots reach the less-exchangeable P in the soil due to increased radicular interception and a lower diffusion distance, incrementing nutrient uptake [11] [34].Leaf deciduousness in older plants (770 DAT) may have led to Mg and N translocation from older to younger leaves.However, regarding the levels of Ca, which does not move in the leaves, age progression led to a two-fold reduction in the leaves when compared to the reduction observed in the roots (Figure 7  N and P act synergistically on radicular P contents.On the other hand, in the older plants, the combined increase in the N and P doses had an antagonist effect on the levels of radicular P. Increased N availability usually leads to incremented P uptake [14].Nevertheless, in the present work such effect occurred only in the younger plants.As they aged, the effect of P from the roots seemed to be more important than its synergism with N. In the roots, supplementation with N acted synergistically with N, regardless of age, and with K, Ca, Mg, N and P in the leaves.However, it had no effect on K and Ca contents in the roots, since it did not affect radicular development.The growing addition of S doses in the form of ammonium sulfate may have increased the availability of ferredoxin (Fe 2 S 2 ) involved in the transformation of glutamine into glutamate following N uptake [15].Furthermore, S is also present in cysteine and methionine, both crucial aminoacids in the assimilation of N into proteins, incrementing foliar N contents.Enhanced N uptake by the plants increases K demand in the tissues, and may result in K deficiency or dilution [14].However, fertilization with K must have been sufficient to supply the increased demand caused by the foliar growth promoted by N. Due to its role in the incremented foliar growth, N also increased Ca demands in the leaves.Besides, with the elevated chlorophyll levels caused by higher N availability, the demand for Mg, a chlorophyll constituent [12], increased as well.
Despite the fact that supplementation with P increased Mg and N concentrations in the roots and P levels in the leaves, reducing K and N levels in the leaves.Nevertheless, P did not show a clear effect on these levels, since it did not affect Mg and N contents in the roots or K contents in the leaves, but increased foliar N contents.Furthermore, K, Ca and Mg contents in the leaves did not show any response to P fertilization.In the roots and leaves, P acted synergistically only with itself, due to the increased P availability in the soil.
This study was done under moderately controlled conditions, so in the field the plant response may be different.But it shows that the phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer together allow further development of carobinha plants.Population studies can better clarify the role of N and P fertilization in the genetic diversity of the species.In addition, we observed high diversity among the plants, since the species has not yet been selected.Thus, both individuals responsive and efficient in the use of nutrients should be selected for commercial production [35].We did not determine the levels of nitrate (N-NO 3 ) and nitrite (N-NO 2 ) in plant tissue, N forms that may be toxic to humans [36].Therefore, future studies can determine these levels in the tissues and indicate the level of nitrogen fertilization in the carobinha that is safe for human health [37].Future studies may also quantify the loss levels of N and P.

Figure 1 (
Figure 1(d).Ca 2 (H 2 PO 4 ) contains 150 g Ca kg −1 , therefore supplementation with crescent P doses resulted in increased Ca levels, and consequently higher sum of bases, base saturation and CEC.The soil acidification (characterized by a pH varying between 5.71 and 6.43) resulting from elevated H + Al as a consequence of N addition increased P availability in the soil solution[26].

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on soil chemistry.K (a), Mg (b), P (c) and expected P/soil P (d) by nitrogen and phosphorus doses.Fitted models are in Table1.Soil sampled at 259 DAT, sample composed of substrate collected from two vases.Mg (KCl), P and K (Mehlich 1).

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Effects of plant age or age at harvest and of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on the carobinha growth.Plant height ((a) and (b)) and stem diameter ((c) and (d)) by plant age (1) (n = 72 -144) and the N and P doses (2) (n = 2 -4).Fitted models are in Table 1.Plant height and stem diameter refer to the average values between treatments.Bars indicate standard error (±).

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Effects of plant age or age at harvest and of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on the carobinha growth.Branching (a), xylopodium diameter (b) and leaf area (c) by age at harvest and the N and P doses (n = 2).Fitted models are in Table1.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Effects of age at harvest and of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on carobinha yield.Production of dries leaves (a); dry xylopodium (b) by age at harvest and N and P doses (n = 2).Dry stem (c) by N and P doses (n = 4).Dry root (d) by age at harvest (n = 36).Fitted models are in Table 1.Stem production is the average of both harvests (259 and 770 DAT), and root production refers to the average between treatments.Bars in the boxplot graphs indicate variability outside the upper and lower quartile, out-of-graph points indicate outliers, and the width of the box indicates the sample size.***p > 0.001 by F test.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Effects of age at harvest and of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on macronutrient concentrations in carobinha leaves.Ca (a), Mg (b) and N (c1) by age at harvest (n = 36).N (c2) and P (d) by N and P doses in the plants harvested at 259 DAT (n = 8).Fitted models are in Table 1.Ca, Mg and N levels represent the average of treatments.Bars in the boxplot graphs indicate variability outside the upper and lower quartile, out-of-graph points indicate outliers, and the width of the box indicates the sample size.*p > 0.05, **p > 0.01, ***p > 0.001, and ****p > 0.0001 by F test.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Effects of age at harvest and of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on macronutrient concentrations in carobinha roots.K (a) and Ca (b) by age at harvest (n = 36).Mg (c), N (d) and P (e) by age at harvest and N and P doses (n = 8).Fitted models are in Table 1.K and Ca represent the average of treatments.Bars in the boxplot graphs indicate variability outside the upper and lower quartile, out-of-graph points indicate outliers, and the width of the box indicates the sample size.*p > 0.05, **p > 0.01, ***p > 0.001, and ****p > 0.0001 by F test.

Figure 7 .
Figure 7. Effects of age at harvest and of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on nutrient contents in the carobinha.Contents of K (a), Ca (b), Mg (c), N (d) and P (e) in the leaves by age at harvest (259, n = 8 and 770 DAT, n = 5) and N and P doses.Fitted models are in Table1.
(b)  and Figure8(a)), indicating that Ca translocation is very low or null.In the younger plants,

Figure 8 .
Figure 8. Effects of age at harvest and of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on nutrient contents in the carobinha roots.Contents of Ca (a) and P (d) by harvest age (259, n = 8 and 770 DAT, n = 5) and, N and P doses.Mg contents (b) by plant age at harvest (259, n = 72 and 770 DAT, n = 45).N levels (c) by N doses (n = 16 -48).Fitted models are in Table 1.The Mg levels represents the average between treatments, and N contents refer to the average harvest age and the average P doses.Bars in the boxplot graphs indicate variability outside the upper and lower quartile, out-of-graph points indicate outliers, and the width of the box indicates the sample size.*p > 0.05, **p > 0.01, ***p > 0.001, and ****p > 0.0001 by F test.

N
and P fertilization promotes the aerial development of plant and a differential allocation of nutrients between the carobinha tissues.N acts on the development of the aerial part, depending on the plant age, and on the nutrient allocation in the leaves.The effect of P on the development and nutrient allocation in the roots are independent of plant age.The carobinha grows as part of the sub-shrubs in the Cerrado.The growth is rapid in the younger plants and slower in adult plants.The growth changes from vertical to horizontal through stem development and the production of branches.The deciduousness in carobinha