Liming and phosphorus fertilization in soils under cerrado I. Dry matter accumulation and phosphorus uptake by sorghum

Abstract

A study was made, under greenhouse conditions, on the effects of liming and  phosphorus fertilizer (300 kg P₂0₅/ha) aplication on dry matter accumulation and P-uptake by sorghum plants. Plants were grown in four Oxisols originally under cerrado vegetation. Liming per se, had no effects on dry matter accumulation and P-uptake. Likewise, phosphorus application without liming did not result in any increase in dry matter accumulation and P-uptake, except for one Oxisol where Al-saturation level was originally low. There was a positive correlation between P-fertilization and liming on dry matter accumulation and P-uptake by plants. The results showed that the main effect of liming in these soils was on the elimination of phytotoxicity, mainly due to exchangeable aluminum.