Nutrição Mineral de Hortaliças

Abstract

Eggplant is the fruit of the solanum melongena plant, native to India. According to some historians, its cultivation began around four thousand years ago as an ornamental plant. It arrived in Europe in the 13th century, via the Arabs of the Iberian peninsula. In regions with a hot climate, the planting season lasts all year round. Eggplant is normally grown in single rows, with spacing varying from 1.2 to 1.5 and from 0.6 to 1.0 between plants. Depending on the variety, the harvest lasts three months or more, from 90 to 110 days after sowing. During harvest, be careful when handling the fruits. They are very sensitive to crushing and damage to tools and other materials. Potassium is essential for the growth, resistance to stress and quality of eggplant fruits, influencing protein synthesis and disease resistance. Calcium contributes to the formation of the cell wall, preventing disorders such as apical rot, regulating soil pH and promoting a healthy root system. Monitoring and adjusting adequate levels of these nutrients in the soil is crucial to optimizing eggplant production and quality.