SOIL ACIDITY, GROWTH AND MINERAL NUTRITION OF SOME TREE SPECIES AT SEEDLING PHASE

Abstract

In order to obtain information about the effects of soil acidity-related factors on the behavior of the seedlings of the forest species Senna multijuga, Stenolobium stans, Anadenanthera falcata and Cedrela fissilis, an assay was carried out under greenhouse conditions at the Soil Science Department of the Federal University of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from July to December, 1995. The seedlings were grown in pots containing a Brazilian Oxisol submitted to the following treatments: control; furnishment of 12 mmolc Ca . dm-3; furnishment of mmolc Mg . dm-3; raise of pH without Ca and Mg application; liming to pH=6,0 with CaCO3 + MgCO3; and application of 15 mmolc Al.dm-3. After growing during 180 days, stem diameter, plant height and root, shoot and total dry matter production were evaluated. Plant Ca, Mg, K e P contents and nutrient utilization efficiency by the species in each treatment were determined. The forest species showed different responses to treatments. In general, aluminium treatment strongly reduced the development of all species while liming improved the growth as evaluated as height, stem diameter and biomass. Higher dry matter production was obtained by liming, Ca and Mg treatments, which provided greater nutrient acquisition and utilization efficiency by plants. Stenolobium stans and Cedrela fissilis were the more sensitive species to acid soil conditions whereas Stenolobium stans and Senna multijuga were the most liming responsive ones.