CONSERVATION OF HELICONIA INFLORESCENCES PREVIOUSLY FERTILIZED WITH INCREASING DOSES OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM

ABSTRACT: The post-harvest of floral stems is one of the main features observed in the production of flowers for cutting, becoming a prerequisite for product quality and successful marketing. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate the conservation of heliconias inflorescences with or without renewal of the water maintenance, previously fertilized with increasing doses of nitrogen and potassium. Inflorescences of Heliconia psittacorum x H. spathocircinata cultivar Golden Torch were used and grown in open conditions in the Floriculture area at UFPI, city of Bom Jesus, Piauí State under increasing doses of fertilization with N and K. The stems were harvested in the morning, standardized and placed in containers with 500 mL of water. The design was a randomized block in factorial 4 x 4 x 2, corresponding to: i) N doses (0, 120, 180, and 240 g N hole-1), ii) K doses (0, 120, 180, and 240 g K2O hole-1), and iii) renewing the water maintenance in vase (with and without renewal) with three replicates of three stems each. Some evaluations were observed during the Study, such as: the water uptake by the flower stems; loss of fresh weight of the flower stems, dry weight of the flower stems and post-harvest longevity. The dose of 180 g hole-1 both as N and K provided the longevity of the flower stems with quality maintenance. The absorption of water by the flower stems and its dry mass after harvesting are influenced by previous fertilizer N and K. The renewal of the water maintenance also positively influence the longevity of flower stems and its a management indicated to maintain quality post-harvest.