EFFECT OF MOLYBDENUM APPLICATION AND DIFFERENT NITROGEN SOURCES IN ‘PÊRA’ ORANGE (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck)
urea, calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, micronutrient, mineral nutrition, citrus
Obtaining high yields with good fruits quality is directly associated with good management practices, including adequate nutrient supply through fertilization. The orange tree (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) has high nitrogen demand, whose assimilation is related to nitrate reductase enzyme, which contains molybdenum in its structure. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of molybdenum foliar application in different nitrogen fertilizers sources on orange cv. 'Pera' physiological and nutritional leaves factors and fruit quality, grown in a commercial orchard. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, with four replications, in a 2 x 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to the absence and presence of molybdenum foliar fertilization, and three nitrogen sources application: urea, ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate. The evaluations consisted in physiological analyzes with photosynthetic variables principal component analysis (PCA) and proline and pigments analysis; leaf nutritional assessments, nitrate and ammonium contents; and fruit quality, which dealt with physical, physical-chemical and coloring analyses. PCA allowed the treatments separation in relation to the absence or molybdenum application. Plants molybdenum fertilized, regardless nitrogen source applied, had higher juice yields and higher total soluble solids levels. The molybdenum presence standardized the titratable acidity and ratio results, regardless the application of urea, ammonium nitrate or calcium nitrate.