Availability of phosphorus by the Mehlich 1 and Resin methods in a Red Yellow Latosol cultivated with three grasses

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare the Mehlich 1 and Resin methods in the evaluation of available P in a Red Yellow Latossol, cultivated with Brachiaría decumbens Stapf., Brachiaría brízantha (Hochst.) Stapf cv. Marandu and Panicum maximum Jacq. Data of two experiments of P fertilization were utilized, one carried out in the greenhouse and the other in the field. Correlations between the amount of P extracted by each extrator with the relative production of dry matter and of the amount of P extracted by the plant and the level of P in the plant, were used to determine the efficiency of the extractors. The results showed that both extractors were efficient and similar for the evaluation of the P availability of the three grasses, but the resin method had a greater extraction capacity of the P applied.