Efficiency of soluble and poorly soluble phosphate fertilizers, with or without complexation with humic substances, in Eucalyptus plantations

Author(s)

José Henrique Bazani

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-10-15

Examining board members

José Leonardo de Moraes Gonçalves; Nairam Felix de Barros; Paulo Sergio Pavinato

• Advisor: José Leonardo de Moraes Gonçalves

Abstract

Fertilization has provided a 30-50% increase on Eucalyptus plantations productivity, and phosphorus (P) is one of the main nutrients responsible for this response. Highly weathered tropical soils reduce the availability of P applied during fertilization due to adsorption reactions with soil clay minerals and complexation with Fe, Al and Ca cations. Proper management of phosphate fertilization contributes to optimize the costs of fertilization and to maintain the economic competitiveness of forest plantations. There are several options for supplying P to plants. In general, phosphate sources differ in concentration, form and P solubility, however exhibit the lowest recovery rate by plants among the macronutrients. New technologies of phosphate fertilizers are being developed to increase this efficiency, which need validation and evidences of its effects on real growth conditions. An alternative to increase P efficiency is complexation with humic substances (P-metal-HS complex), once this method decreases the adsorption processes and provides a better utilization of this nutrient. This study showed a satisfactory growth of Eucalyptus grandis plantation only with the use of fully soluble phosphorus sources during the first two years of the stand. These sources positively affected healthiness and uniformity of the stand. The use of natural reactive phosphate caused different behaviors on P accumulation in plants. With high soil water availability there was a higher P uptake by plants compared with water limitation periods, this fact that was not observed when soluble sources were used. The P-metal-HS complex proved to be a technically feasible alternative to increase P utilization and wood production. The responses to the different phosphorus sources were more evident during the early months of forest growth and decreased over time. Under high soil water stress, these effects were lower due to plant growth limitation. There were no great differences on plant growth in relation to the phosphate sources used, what raises economic and logistic opportunities concerning to the fertilizer choice. Fertilizers with higher concentration sources decrease the initial costs of forest plantations as a result of reduction in expenses with transportation, storage and also due to better efficiency during fertilizer application on the field. However it is necessary to understand the residual effects of P fertilization, with different sources, on subsequent rotations (mainly regarding the coppice management). Studies to understand the participation of P forms in the soil, not detectable in routine analysis (especially organic P), on P supply to plants, can help fertilization programs to optimize the use of P in forest plantations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/18234-5 - Efficiency of phosphate fertilizers with different solubilities and complexed with humic substances in Eucalyptus plantations
• Grantee: José Henrique Bazani
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master