Understanding the efficacy of alternative phosphorus (P) sources in tropical soils is crucial for sustainable farming, addressing resource constraints, mitigating environmental impact, improving crop productivity, and optimizing soil-specific solutions. While the topic holds great importance, current literature falls short in providing thorough, region-specific studies on the effectiveness of alternative P sources in Brazilian tropical soils for maize cultivation. Our aim was to assess the agronomic efficiency of alternative P sources concerning maize crop (Zea mays L.) attributes, including height, shoot dry weight, stem diameter, and nutrient accumulation, across five Brazilian tropical soils. In greenhouse conditions, we carried out a randomized complete block design, investigating two factors (soil type and P sources), evaluating five tropical soils with varying clay contents and three alternative sources of P, as well as a commercial source and a control group. We evaluated maize crop attributes such as height, dry weight biomass, and nutrient accumulation, P availability and agronomic efficiency. Our results showed that, although triple superphosphate (TSP) exhibited greater values than alternative P sources (precipitated phosphorus 1, precipitated phosphorus 2 and reactive phosphate) for maize crop attributes (e.g., height, stem diameter, shoot dry weight and phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, calcium and magnesium accumulation). For instance, PP1 source increased nutrient accumulation for phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) by 37.05% and 75.98% (P), 34.39% and 72.07% (N), and 41.94% and 72.69% (S) in comparison to PP2 and RP, respectively. Additionally, PP1 substantially increased P availability in soils with high clay contents 15 days after planting (DAP), showing increases of 61.90%, 99.04%, and 38.09% greater than PP2, RP, and TSP. For Ca and Mg accumulation, the highest values were found in the COxisol2 soil when PP2 was applied, Ca = 44.31% and 69.48%; and Mg = 46.23 and 75.79%, greater than PP1 and RP, respectively. Finally, the highest values for relative agronomic efficiency were observed in COxisol2 when PP1 was applied. The precipitated phosphate sources (PP1 and PP2) exhibited a similar behavior to that of the commercial source (TSP), suggesting their potential use to reduce reliance on TSP fertilization, especially in soils with low clay contents. This study emphasized strategies for soil P management, aimed at assisting farmers in enhancing maize crop productivity while simultaneously addressing the effectiveness of alternative P sources of reduced costs.
Phosphorus , Soil , Agriculture , Brazil , Clay , Nitrogen , Phosphates , Sulfur
No sistema de semeadura direta (SSD), a prática da correção da acidez do solo se restringe ao uso do calcário, havendo poucas informações em relação às escórias de siderurgia. O trabalho objetivou avaliar as alterações em propriedades químicas do solo, rendimento e absorção de nutrientes do feijoeiro, em função das formas de aplicação de escórias de siderurgia, comparadas ao calcário, na implantação do sistema de semeadura direta. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas de Botucatu (SP), no período de dezembro de 2010 a maio de 2011. Os tratamentos foram duas formas de aplicação de sete corretivos da acidez do solo: escórias de aciaria, de alto forno, de forno de panela, do aço inox (agrosilício), wollastonita, calcário dolomítico e calcário dolomítico calcinado, além de uma testemunha sem aplicação de corretivo. A dose aplicada de cada corretivo foi calculada para elevar a saturação por bases do solo a 70. A acidez do solo foi neutralizada até a camada de 20cm com os calcários, enquanto a wollastonita e escória de forno de panela atingiram a camada de 10cm; para as escórias de aciaria, alto forno e o agrosilício, o efeito corretivo ficou restrito aos primeiros 5cm. O rendimento do feijoeiro aumentou com a aplicação de corretivos da acidez do solo, sem diferença entre o modo de aplicação.
In the no till system, soil acidity correction practice is restricted to limestone use and there is little information regarding slag. The study aimed to evaluate the amendments in soil chemical properties, yield and bean nutrient uptake according to the application forms of slags, compared to limestone, in the implantation of no till system. The experiment was conducted in the field at College of Agricultural Sciences, Botucatu (SP) from December 2010 to May2011. The treatments consisted of two application ways of seven soil acidity correctives: steel slag, blast furnace slag, ladle furnace slag, stainless steel slag (“agrosilício”), wollastonite, lime and calcined dolomite lime, plus one control without corrective application. Each material dose was calculated to raise the base saturation to 70%. Soil acidity was neutralized down to 20cm with limestones, whereas for wollastonite and ladle furnace slag those effects occurred down to 10cm, for steel slag, blast furnace slag and “agrosilício” the corrective effect was restricted to the first 5cm. The bean yield increased by application of correctives in soil acidity, without differences between the application ways.
