STEM DIAMETER OF TAQUARA BAMBOO ( Bambusa tuldoides ) FERTILIZED WITH POTASSIUM AND ZINC

: The Americas detain 30% of the total bamboo species, and Brazil is the country holding the greatest diversity. However, studies into the characterization and evaluation of bamboo species fertilized with potassium and zinc are scarce. The objectives of this work were to assess stem diameter of Taquara plants ( Bambusa tuldoides ) fertilized with potassium and zinc. The experimental design was randomized block, in a split-split-plot arrangement (2 × 2 × 4) with three replications, with two potassium rates in the plots (0 and 80 kg ha -1 ), two zinc rates in the subplots (0 and 5 kg ha -1 ), and four evaluation times in the sub-subplots (60, 90, 120 and 150 days after sprouting). Morphological characteristic stem diameter was evaluated monthly. Stem diameter was measured in the middle third of the plant using a caliper ruler. The stem diameter of bamboo ( Bambusa tuldoides ) is maximized when fertilized with 80 kg ha -1 of K and 5 kg ha -1 de Zn.