"Boldo paraguayo" (Plectranthus ornatus Codd) foliar bioconcentrations in the northwest of Corrientes, Argentina

Abstract

The aim of this researchwork was to evaluate nutritional parameters in Plectranthus ornatus Codd and to describe nutrients seasonal dynamic in the northwest area of Corrientes, Argentina. Plants with more than two years of implantation, which grew naturally under the same environmental conditions, were the genetic material evaluated. The variables analyzed were nutrients foliar concentrations, such as: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (expressed as percentage-g.100g^-1  ), zinc, copper, iron and manganese (expressed in parts per million-μg g^-1 ). The samplings were carried out in each of the four seasons of the year for three years consecutively. Stable leaf concentrations were evidenced in macronutrients over time. Fe and Zn micronutrients showed significant variation in foliar concentration along the years, however, their concentration levels were not significantly different throughout the seasons, remaining stable. The nutritional contributions are represented by means of foliar concentrations that may vary between: 0.68 to 1.91% of N; 0.37 to 0.59% of P; 2.80 to 4.57% K; 14.89 to 21.51 ppm Cu; 10.66 to 13.53 ppm Zn; 17 to 27.50 ppm of Mn and 42.21 to 45.32 ppm of Fe.