ABSTRACT Excessive phosphorus (P) applications can increase nutrient levels in the soil, facilitating its transference to aquatic environments and causing contamination. Thus, the environmental P threshold (P-threshold) is a tool to establish a sound level of P in the soil, in which P values below the threshold are harmless to the environment. This study aimed to establish a P-threshold equation for the soils of Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Twenty samples of representative soils from the main swine production regions of the State were collected. These samples were characterized chemically and in terms of P adsorption capacity, then incubated with P rates for 30 days. After incubation, the water-soluble P content (P-water) and the available P content were determined by Mehlich-1 method (P-Mehlich-1). The relationship between P-water and P-Mehlich-1 allowed the determination of the P-Mehlich-1 content from which the amount of nutrient in water increases abruptly, establishing this point as the limit P (P-limit). Subsequently, the P-limit values were plotted against the clay content of the soils, and the resulting equation was used to calculate the P-threshold by adding a safety margin of 20 % to the P-limit versus clay equation. The model was tested on 120 soil samples from Mato Grosso State, and it was able to separate them into two groups with low and high P-water, classified as below or above P-threshold, respectively. Based on that, the simplified equation “P-threshold (mg dm-3) = 13 + 0.5 * % clay” was proposed.

ABSTRACT Soils with low potassium (K) availability require corrective fertilization for grain crops. The recommended rate to increase K availability up to the critical level depends on the soil K buffering capacity (KBC). This study aimed to quantify the KBC and recalculate the rates necessary to reach the K critical level in 23 soils from Southern Brazil. Soil samples were incubated with six K rates, that were thus grouped according to CECpH7.0: below 7.5 cmolc dm-3 (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 kg K2O ha-1); from 7.6 to 15 cmolc dm-3 (0, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg K2O ha-1) and from 15.1 to 30 cmolc dm-3 (0, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 kg K2O ha-1). The soil test K (STK) was extracted by Mehlich-1 and the fertilizer rates necessary to increase the STK by 1 mg dm-3 were quantified. The KBC values were correlated with a suite of soil testing metrics. The relationship between the cation exchange capacity (CECpH7.0) and KBC was modeled, and a linear-plateau equation presented the best fit. The K rates were calculated using the following equation: K rate = ( Critical Level − S T K ) × K B C and were compared with the current rate indicated by the Local Soil Fertility Committee. The K fertilizer rates by KBC were about 2.5 times higher than the values currently indicated, and the largest differences were observed in soils with low STK and high CECpH7.0.

ABSTRACT The phosphorus (P) rates recommended for corrective fertilization-P of soils from southern Brazil may be insufficient to reach the critical level for optimal plant growth. This study aimed to quantify the fertilizer-P rates for total correction fertilization with varying soil buffering capacity in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC). Soil samples from 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m layers were collected from 41 locations distributed in both states. Twelve P rates were applied to each soil, varying between 0 and 100 % of the maximum adsorption capacity (P-max), and incubated for 20 days. After incubation, the extractable P was determined by Mehlich-1. Based on the relationship between applied rates and extracted P, the P buffer capacity (trP_M1) of the soils was quantified, relating it to soil properties. The trP_M1 values, that is, amounts of P2O5 required to increase 1 mg dm-3 of P extracted by Mehlich-1, varied between 2.4 and 34.5 kg ha-1 of P2O5. A multiple explanatory equation for the variable P was generated, in which only P-max, clay content, and initial P availability have a significant effect. The P buffer capacity was significantly higher in the soils with the highest clay content, and there was a reduction in trP_M1 for soils with higher initial P availability. Considering 270 soil samples with low P, the P rate to reach the sufficient levels may be 2-folds higher than the values currently indicated for the RS and SC states, especially for soils with more than 40 % of clay. Phosphorus rates for corrective fertilization must be based on the soil clay content and in P initial availability. The fertilizer-P in clayey soils must be increased.

ABSTRACT The overloading of soil with manure or mineral fertilizers enhances phosphorus (P) availability, promoting its loss to water bodies and increasing the risk of eutrophication. In this sense, the establishment of an environmental P threshold is a simple and useful tool to classify soils regards its risk of P losses. Here we propose a P-threshold for soils from the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) in Brazil, with the soil clay content as the principal variable of the model. Samples from 20 representative soils of Rio Grande do Sul State were collected in the 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m layers. Samples were physically and chemically characterized and incubated with P rates varying from 0 to 100 % of its maximum adsorption capacity. After 20 days of incubation, the P availability was determined in water and Mehlich-1 extractant. We assessed trough segmented linear functions the value of P-Mehlich in which the levels of P water enhance abruptly (i.e., breaking point) to determine the P limit for each soil. Subsequently, the P limit values were linked to the clay content in the sample, adopting the linear equation arising from it as the P-threshold. Adding a safety margin of 20 % to the P-threshold equation, we propose a simplified one “P-threshold = 20 + clay”. Based on the current critical level of P adopted by the regional recommendation in RG, the equation proposed does not limit the production of the most crop species.

RESUMO Os extratores de fósforo (P) Mehlich 1 (M-1), Mehlich 3 (M-3) e Resina Trocadora de Ânions (RTA) apresentam sensibilidade ao conteúdo de argila do solo. Ainda, o uso de equações para conversão do P disponível extraído por M-3 em valores equivalentes de M-1 pode não ser adequado para um conjunto de solos contrastantes. O objetivo do trabalho é avaliar a influência do conteúdo de argila na extração de P por M-1, M-3 e RTA, bem como avaliar a efetividade de utilização de equações para conversão dos teores por M-3 em valores equivalentes de M-1. Foram selecionadas 301 amostras de solo no laboratório de rotina do CAV/UDESC, distribuídos em quatro classes de argila: 0-20, 21-40, 41-60 e > 60% de argila. As amostras foram preparadas e foi extraído o P disponível por M-1, M-3 e RTA. Os extratores M-3 e RTA extraíram quantidades de P 12 e 11% superiores ao M-1, respectivamente. M-1 extraiu menos P que M-3 e RTA em solos de textura arenosa e extraiu mais P que os demais extratores em solos de textura argilosa. A equação sugerida pela CQFS - RS/SC (2016) para conversão dos teores de M-3 para equivalentes em M-1 subestimou os valores de P em até 24%. Com isso, alternativamente, se propõe a utilização da equação P-M1eq (mg dm-3) = (P-M3 / (1,38-0,01*Arg)). Os métodos avaliados apresentam sensibilidade ao teor de argila do solo, devendo ser realizada a classificação da disponibilidade P por faixas de textura.

ABSTRACT Phosphorus extractors (P) Mehlich 1 (M-1), Mehlich 3 (M-3) and Anion Exchange Resin (RTA) show sensitivity to soil clay content. Also, the use of equations for conversion of available P extracted by M-3 into equivalent values of M-1 may not be adequate for a set of contrasting soils. The objective of this work is to evaluate the influence of clay content on the extraction of P by M-1, M-3 and RTA, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of using the equation proposed by Local Soil Fertility Committee to convert M-3 contents to equivalent values of M-1. It was selected 301 farmers’ soil samples from the soil test laboratory at Santa Catarina State University, distributed in four classes of clay: 0-20, 21-40, 41-60 and > 60% clay. The samples were prepared and the available P was extracted by M-1, M-3 and RTA. M-3 and RTA extracted 12 and 11% more P than M-1, M-1 extracted less P than M-3 and RTA in sandy soils and extracted more P than others in clayey soils. The equation suggested by Local Soil Fertility Committee for converting M-3 values to equivalents in M-1 underestimated P values by up to 24%. Therefore, it is proposed to use the equation P-M1eq (mg dm-3) = (P-M3 / (1.38-0.01 * Arg)). The evaluated methods present sensitivity to soil clay content, and the classification of P availability should be performed by texture bands.

RESUMO: O estudo objetivou comparar dois métodos de avaliação de acidez potencial (H+Al) e de estimativa da necessidade de calagem (NC) para solos da região Oeste de Santa Catarina (SC). Quatorze solos foram incubados com 7 doses de calcário durante 120 dias, obtendo-se ao final os valores reais de H+Al a pH 7,0 e a NC dos solos. Esses valores serviram de referência para avaliar a exatidão dos métodos de estimativa do H+Al: tampão SMP e acetato de cálcio a pH 7,0 e a exatidão dos métodos de estimativa da NC: índice SMP e saturação por bases (V%). Em média, o H+Al foi subestimado em 6 e 40% pelos métodos SMP e acetato de cálcio, respectivamente, sendo mais problemático nos solos de maior tamponamento. Já a NC foi subestimada em 20 e 30% pelo Índice SMP e V%, respectivamente. O índice SMP estimou melhor a NC que o método V%, principalmente em solos de maior tamponamento.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare two methods of evaluation of potencial acidity (H+Al) and two methods to estimate liming requirement (LR) for soils from the west region of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Fourteen soils were incubated with 7 lime rates for 120 days, obtaining the real values of H+Al at pH 7.0 and LR. These values were used as reference to evaluate the accuracy of two H+Al estimating methods: SMP buffer and calcium acetate at pH 7.0, and to evaluate the accuracy of two LR methods: base saturation (BS) and SMP index. On average, H+Al was underestimated in 6 and 40% by SMP and calcium acetate methods, respectively, especially in soils with high buffer capacity. The LR was underestimated in 20 and 30% by SMP index and BS, respectively. The SMP Index showed a better LR estimative than BS, especially in soils with high buffer capacity.