The absorption march studies the relationship between the amount of nutrients, dry mass accumulation and the plant age. The absorption march of nutrients, fresh mass and dry mass production of sweet potato organs was determined on the cultivar Canadense. The experiment was carried out between August and December, 2007, in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo State, Brazil, on a commercial farm. The completely randomized experimental design was adopted, with three repetitions. The treatments consisted of eight collection dates, beginning 40 days after transplanting, at 15-day intervals. The storage roots provided higher production of fresh and dry mass at harvest in comparison to other organs. N and Mn were the macro and micronutrients more absorbed by leaves, stems and storage roots of sweet potato, while higher absorption of Ca and Mn was observed in the roots. The period of larger absorption of N and K by storage roots was between 115-145 and 115-130 days after transplanting date, respectively.
Ipomoea batatas; nutrient extraction; biomass yield
