Décio Oscar Cardoso Ferreto

Improving Acid Soil Fertility and Initial Growth of Eucalyptus by Compost of Bovine Ruminal Residues in a Pot Experiment

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a compost of bovine ruminal residues to improve soil fertility and initial growth of eucalyptus cultivated in acid soil. Eucalyptus was cultivated in pots with a Hapludalf amended with 0 (Control 1), 5, 10, and 15 m3compost ha−1, and with only liming and mineral fertilization (Control 2). The compost enhanced all evaluated parameters of plant growth and soil and plant chemical analysis; overcoming, or at least equalizing to results from the Control 2. The compost can be used as alternative to liming and mineral fertilization in Eucalyptus urograndis plantations in acid soils of the Brazilian Pampa.

Boron fertilization and liming for Eucalyptus urograndis cropped on sandy arenosol of Brazilian pampa

ABSTRACT Boron (B) requirement and its interaction with liming for eucalyptus plantations in sandy soils of Brazilian Pampa are poorly understood. Aiming to diminish this gap, seedlings of Eucalyptus urograndis were grown in pots with Arenosol fertilized with B at rates 0.0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg B dm−3, with and without liming. Results of shoot and root dry matter and stem diameter did not evidence the necessity of B fertilization. With the exception of the 1.0 mg B dm−3+lime, all other B-fertilized treatments promoted visual symptoms of toxicity, which were partially mitigated by liming. Liming exacerbated the B loss by leaching, but after five months, limed soils had higher content of available B and their plants had higher B concentration in shoots and roots. For our conditions, application of ≥2.5 mg B dm−3 can cause serious toxic injuries to plants and enlarge dramatically the B losses leaching.