Improving phosphorus availability from patos phosphate rock for Eucalyptus: a study with 32P radiotracer

Abstract

Eucalyptus plantation in Brazil is generally set on low fertility soils, therefore phosphorus (P) fertilization is mandatory and increases the cost of plantation operation. Using species that more efficiently uptake phosphorus from less soluble sources is an interesting option. However, little is known about eucalyptus regarding its ability of using less soluble forms of phosphorus. The use of P by eucalyptus (E. urophylla, E. grandis, and E. urophylla ;´; E. grandis) was studied in greenhouse using a loamy-textured, hipodystrophic Typic Haplustox from the Cerrado region, and 32P isotopic method. The P sources tested were triple superphosphate (TSP), phosphate rock (PR) and the triple superphosphate mixed with PR (TSP+PR). The effectiveness of P sources in terms of increasing dry matter yield was TSP = (TSP + PR) >; PR, and the P uptake followed the order (TSP + PR) >; TSP >; PR for both species plus the hybrid. The increase in P uptake from PR due to TSP influence was 217.3% for E. urophylla, 235.7% for E. grandis, and 28.7% for E. urophylla ;´; E. grandis, indicating an enhancement effect of TSP on the effectiveness of PR. The hybrid E. urophylla ;´; E. grandis was the most efficient genotype on P soil use and E. grandis most exigent in P fertilizer.