ABSTRACT Oxidic soils are phosphorus drains in soil; hence, P availability is a limiting factor in tropical, weathered Oxidic soils. It has been shown that some brachiarias grown as cover crops may increase soil available P to subsequent crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil P cycling and availability, as well as the response of soybean to soluble and natural reactive phosphates as affected by ruzi grass (Urochloa ruziziensis, R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard, Crin) grown as a cover crop in a no-till system. Experimental treatments consisted of the presence or absence of ruzi grass in combination with a control (0.0 P) and soluble and reactive rock phosphate broadcast on the soil surface in the winter (80 kg ha-1 P2O5), plus three rates of P applied to soybean furrows (0, 30, and 60 kg ha-1 of P2O5) at planting, in the form of triple superphosphate. Soybean was cropped in two seasons: 2010/2011 and 2011/2012. Soil samples were taken before soybean planting (after desiccation of Brachiaria) at 0.00-0.05 and 0.05-0.10 m for soil available P. Total weight of dry matter and P accumulated in ruzi grass were determined, as well as soybean yields, P in soybean grains, and P use efficiency (PUE). The use of natural phosphate increased soil P availability. The highest yields were obtained with higher application rates of triple superphosphate in the planting furrow combined with broadcast rock phosphate. Broadcast application of Arad reactive phosphate increases and maintains soil available P, and this practice, associated with ruzi grass grown as a cover crop and the use of triple superphosphate applied to soybean furrows, results in higher use of P by soybeans.

A deficiência de fósforo (P) é um dos principais fatores limitantes da produtividade em solos tropicais, mas há indicações de que algumas plantas podem melhorar a disponibilidade do P no solo. O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar as transformações do P durante o cultivo da braquiária e do tremoço-branco, além de um possível aumento de formas orgânicas de P no solo. O experimento foi instalado em casa de vegetação, onde foram cultivados braquiária (Urochloa ruziziensis) e tremoço branco (Lupinus albus L.), fertilizados com 0; 20; 40; 60 e 80mg dm-3 de P. As plantas foram cultivadas por 60 dias. A adubação com P aumentou a produção de matéria seca da braquiária e tremoço branco. O P bioativo (extraído com EDTA) é aumentado pelas doses de P, mas não é afetado pelas espécies vegetais. O tremoço branco é mais eficiente em absorver o P, enquanto a braquiária é mais eficiente em reduzir a capacidade máxima de adsorção de P do solo.

Phosphorus is one of the major factor that limits agricultural productivity in most tropical soils. The objective of this study was to assess P transformations and availability in a soil cropped to brachiaria (Urochloa ruziziensis) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.). The study was carried out in a greenhouse at Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Brachiaria and white lupin were grown in pots with soil fertilized with 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80mg dm-3 P. The plants were grown for 60 days, when they were harvested and the soil was sampled. Dry matter yields of both species were increased with P rates. Soil bioactive P is increased with P fertilization, but is not affected by the plant species. White lupin is more effective in taking up the organic soil P, but Brachiaria was more effective in reducing the soil maximum P adsorption capacity.