Vegetative Development and Nutrient Absorption March of Sorrel (Rumex acetosa L.)

Sorrel (Rumex acetosa L.) is an unconventional food plant. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that forms thickets. There are studies related to the accumulation of nutrients in sorrel, but there is no information on its absorption march and vegetative development. The objective of this study is to determine macronutrient absorption and biometric parameters of sorrel during 60 days after seedling transplantation (DAT) of seedlings. The experiment was completely randomized with eight treatments and four replications. It was conducted in a greenhouse. The treatments consisted of plant collection times, performed at 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 and 60 DAT. Plants’ biometric parameters (leaf blade length, relative leaf area, and shoot fresh and dry matter) and macronutrient absorption march were evaluated. Biomass, leaf blade length and relative leaf area of sorrel plants increased over time and, more markedly, after 35 DAT. The maximum levels of macronutrients accumulated in sorrel shoots, in descending order, were K > N > Ca > Mg > P > S. There was no significant difference in Ca and S contents among collection times, that is, the absorption and accumulation of these nutrients by sorrel did not vary throughout the evaluation time.