Variabilidad en el patrón de crecimiento de jamaica ( hibiscus sabdariffa l) sometida a dosis nutricionales crecientes

Abstract

The study focused on evaluating the variability in the growth of the Jamaica plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa) under different fertilization doses (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) at the Santa Inés Experimental Farm of the Technical University of Machala, using a completely randomized block design. Four treatments were analyzed: a control without fertilization and three levels of fertilization at 100%, 150%, and 200% of the recommended dose. The results showed that fertilization significantly influences plant growth, especially in the third phenological stage, where the 200% dose provided the greatest benefits in terms of plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, chlorophyll intensity, and flower bud production. However, no significant differences were observed in the first two phenological stages between the 100%, 150%, and 200% doses, suggesting that doses above 100% do not provide additional benefits and may even cause nutritional imbalances that affect the plant's quality and productivity. The research concludes that the optimal fertilization dose for Jamaica's growth is close to 100% of the recommended dose, as higher doses do not result in greater nutrient extraction or significant dry matter accumulation in most parts of the plant.