Nutritional limitations for initial growth of four native woody species in a Red-Yellow Latosol

Abstract

Through the "missing element" technique, the nutritional requirements and limitations of the native woody species, canafístula [Senna multijuga (L.C. Rich) Irwin & Barneby], cedro (Cedrela fissilis Vellozo), pau-ferro (Caesalpinea ferrea Martius ex Tul. var. leiostachya Bentham) and jacaré [Piptadenia gonoacantha (Martius) MacBride] were evaluated in a medium texture, cerrado phase, Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol) from Campos das Vertentes, MG, Brazil. This study was conducted during 170 days under greenhouse conditions at the Soil Science Department of the Federal University of Lavras, MG, Brazil. The treatments consisted of the control without addition of nutrients, complete fertilization with macronutrients and micronutrients (C) and omission of nutrients of the (C) treatment. A high response of the species to complete fertilization was observed. The dry matter production of canafístula, cedro, pau-ferro and jacaré was increased in 67, 17, 82 and 8 fold, respectively, over the non-fertilized control. The omission of N, P or S from the (C) treatment resulted in great reduction of growth for the studied species, evidencing their requirement and soil limitations. In spite of the low K availability in the soil (15 μg/g of soil), its omission did not reduce plant growth. Pau-ferro had its growth reduced by omission of micronutrients. The growth of these species in the studied soil will be possible only if adequate N, P, and S fertilizers are supplied.