Eucalypt productivity in response to soil profile conditioning in the Brazilian Cerrado

• Ano de defesa: 2018
• Autor(a) principal: Sousa, Rodrigo Nogueira de
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de Viçosa; Solos e Nutrição de Plantas
• Palavras-chave em Português: Fosfogesso; Calcário; Raízes (Botânica) - Crescimento; Ciência do Solo
• Link de acesso: https://locus.ufv.br//handle/123456789/29334

The eucalyptus production has a big importance in the Brazilian market due its high commercial influence. Thus, continuous research investments in genetic materials, soil quality and plant nutrition in order to improve forest management are demanded. In this study we tested the influence of limestone and gypsum combined with limestone on soil chemical properties improvement of two oxisols with contrasting clay contents, and its impact on eucalyptus growth and performance. We performed two field experiments over 84 months, varying the limestone and gypsum in broadcast or band incorporated or not. At the end of the experiment were evaluated the impact of treatments in soil chemical properties, root growth, density and biomass, nutrient content, dry matter of the tree components and litter, also plant nutrient recovery and eucalypt productivity. Both treatments with limestone and gympsum combined had more K in the soil profile in both sites. The treatments that only received limestone (band or broadcast) showed no difference in terms of K concentration in both soils. The treatments receiving gypsum also had the highest input of S-SO 42- showing more sulfur in the soil profile in both sites, specially when gypsum was applied concentrated . Limestone applied on band promoted the highest Ca 2+ levels and distribution in the soil profile in both, sandy loam and clay soils however did not show the highest productivity. The control treatment , had good roots growth in upper soil layers. Nonetheless, treatment receiving gypsum and lime combined showed a greater root density (RD) and dry biomass in deeper soil layers. Gypsum applied banded also promoted the highest increase on dry matter of all tree components and, consequently, the total plant dry weight in both soils, also increased all nutrients content on the shoots in both sites, and finally this treatment promoted the best eucalypt productivity. We assumed that the S has an essential importance to plants development. First, due the S to be crucial element for the whole plant physiology and metabolism, once it has large relevance in cysteine and methionine biosynthesis. Second, its consequent downward movement in soil profile, which allow higher roots exploration for nutrients and water.