With the aim to evaluate the role of zinc-phosphorus ratio in the initial growth of pitaia for provide information that supports the definition of production systems more suitable for the exploitation of this crop in Brazil an experiment was carried out, testing five levels of P (0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 mg dm-3) and Zn (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg dm-3) were each nutrient levels, arranged in 5x5 factorial design with four blocks. For significant interaction (p <0.05) proceeded adjustment in response surfaces of type Y = β0 + β1 (A) + β2 (A)² + β3 (B) + β4 (B) ² + β5 (A). (B) + e. Estimates of phenotypic correlations were obtained considering only the range of doses of P and Zn that promoted the best answers to the access pitaya traits. Application of P and Zn, and P x Zn interaction affect both the availability of nutrients in the soil, roots and shoots, thus influencing the early growth of pitaya. The most satisfactory yields occur when there is 60 - 75 mg P dm-3 and 3.0 - 4.0 mg dm-3 of Zn in the soil and 4.5 to 6.0 g kg-1 and 150 mg of P Zn kg-1 in shoots. These levels were obtained for the combination of 150 to 225 mg dm-3 with P 4 - 6 mg dm-3 of Zn. The levels of P and Zn in the shoot and the sum of the length of cladodes (SCC) are the characters that have greater explanatory direct effects on dry weight of cladodes (MSC).
fertilization; cactaceae; exotic fruit; Hylocereus undatus; interaction between nutrients
