EFFECT OF PHOSPHATING ON SOIL CHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES AND CULTIVATION OF SUGARCANE FOR FORAGE

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for the cultivation of sugarcane, which plays an important role in rooting, tillering and forage production. With the objective to evaluate the effects of pre-planting phosphating on soil chemical attributes and sugarcane growth for forage production, an experiment was conducted at the Santa Mercedes plant, Tupi Paulista, SP, using the RB 86 7515 variety. The experimental design consisted of random blocks with 8 treatments and 4 replicates, totaling 32 experimental units, in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme including two P sources (decanted phosphate and monoammonium phosphate) and four P doses (0, 80, 120, and 160 kg/ha P2O5). The P sources and doses tested increase the availability of P in soil, with the dose of 120 kg/ha P2O5 providing the highest production of green forage mass. Monoammonium phosphate as P source reduces soil pH and increases the availability of micronutrients such as iron, boron and zinc.