São apresentados, neste trabalho, os dados da marcha da absorção dos elementos nutritivos essenciais pelo tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), em plantas cultivadas em igualdade de condições em vasos de Mitscherlich. Durante o ciclo da planta, em cada dez dias, foram colhidas e analisadas para determinar os teores de N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o tomateiro absorve grande quantidade de potássio, 185 kg/ha, e pouco menos de nitrogênio, 93,6 kg/ha, A seguir, em ordem decrescente, vieram o cálcio, com 31 kg, o enxôfre, com 28 kg, o fósforo, com 21 kg, e, finalmente, o magnésio, com 9 kg por hectare. As quantidades totais de nitrogênio, potássio e magnésio foram absorvidas até a cultura completar 120 dias, a de enxôfre, até 100 dias após a germinação. O fósforo e o cálcio foram absorvidos, continuamente, desde o início até o final do ciclo.
In this paper some data are presented on the absorption rate of essential nutrients of the tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in Mitscherlich pots. Plant samples were analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. The cultural practices and other conations, such as water, disease and insect control were the same for all plants. Fertilizers, including microelements, were used in order to maintain fertility at a high level. Based on the results, it was concluded that the tomato plant absorbs a large quantity of potassium, followed by nitrogen. It was found that the quantities of minerals absorbed by the plants per hectare, in decreasing order, were 185 kg of potassium, 93.6 kg of nitrogen, 31 kg of calcium, 28 kg of sulfur, 21 kg of phosphorus and, finally, in smaller amount, magnesium at the rate of 9 kg. The results showed that the total quantities of nitrogen, potassium and magnesium were absorbed within 120 days from the starting of the culture, whereas sulfur was absorbed in as much as 100 days after the germination. On the other hand, phosphorus and calcium were absorbed continuously from the beginning to the end of the experiment without showing any absorption climax.