At Los Vilos Experiment Substation (lNlA), a factorial experiment was stablished iii 1977, with five nitrogen rates (0, 8.8, 17.8, 35.8, and 71.1 kg/ha of N), and three phosphorus rates (0, 25, and 50 kg/ha of P2O5). Both fertilizers were applied at the site where the bushes were planted. Response to nitrogen was high, but no response to phosphorus was observed. Fertilization with 17.8 kg/ha of N produced the highest yield: 140 and 110 kg/ha of dry matter, during the first and the second year, respectively. With this level of fertilization, bushes developed a height and diameter adequate to be used at the end of the first year, and also protein/ha production was close to four times the amount obtained with no nitrogen. |