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Oil palm is the main palm tree cultivated in the tropics, but little is understood about copper (cu) management in this crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of copper in oil palms plants in the Eastern Amazon. The experiment was carried out in Tailândia, in the state of Pará (Brazil), using a completely randomized experimental design, with four replications and seven treatments (ages of oil palm plants: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 years). The concentration, accumulation, cycling, immobilization, export, and efficiency of copper use in the different organs of the plants were evaluated. The highest copper concentrations occurred in the palm heart in the second year, and copper accumulation (481 g ha−1) and export were highest in the eighth year of growth. Among the plant organs, the highest copper exports occurred in the bunches (69.38 g ha1). The highest proportion of copper was immobilized (326 g ha−1), while the lowest proportion of the nutrient accumulated in the export organs. Copper use efficiency increased with plant age, and efficiency was greater in the petiole and lower in the palm heart. The copper requirement increased with the age of oil palms grown in the Eastern Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm production is strategic in the Amazon with high productive potential, but information on its fertilization is still relatively scarce for the region. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium fertilizations on oil palm production in different years in the state of Pará, Brazil. The study was conducted in Tailândia, Northeastern of Pará, Eastern Amazon, Brazil. A randomized block design was used in a 4 x 2 x 3 x 2 factorial scheme, with four levels of phosphorus, two sources of phosphorus, three levels of potassium and two levels of magnesium. Oil palm production responded positively to the increase in phosphorus levels, and until the eighth year of age of the plants, there was greater production when triple superphosphate was applied. From the ninth year onwards, fertilization with phosphine provided a production equal to the supply of phosphorus with triple superphosphate. The application of potassium chloride increased the number, weight and production of the bunches from the sixth year. The supply of magnesium sulfate increased the average weight of the bunches. Thus, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium fertilizations become essential to increase oil palm production in the Northeast of Pará. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]