Effect of the mixture of acidulated phosphates, natural phosphates and sulfur sources on the growth and phosphorus and sulfur uptake of sugarcane

Abstract

In this study, the objective was to evaluate the effect of the application of acidulated phosphates, natural phosphates, and sulfur sources in soils with different textures on the growth and phosphorus and sulfur uptake of sugarcane. Greenhouse studies were conducted with samples of clayey and sandy soils. Treatments evaluated were: control (without P and S), TSP, TSP + S⁰, TSP + gypsum, MAP + S⁰, MAP + gypsum, reactive phosphate rock + S⁰, reactive phosphate rock + gypsum, natural phosphate of high reactivity + TSP + S⁰ and natural phosphate of low reactivity + TSP + S⁰, applied to the total volume of 10 kg of soil per pots at a rate of 120 mg kg⁻¹ of P₂O₅ and 40 mg kg⁻¹ of S, respectively. Fertilizers were applied to the total volume of 10 kg of soil per pot before planting two pre-sprouted seedlings of sugarcane (variety RB 86-7515). In general, the natural phosphate of low and high reactivity incorporated with TSP and S⁰ in the granule and the phosphates mixed with gypsum were more efficient increasing the sulfur accumulated in sugarcane and the sulfur contents in a clayey soil. On the other hand, the high reactivity natural phosphate incorporated with TSP and S⁰ in the granule and the phosphates mixed with S⁰ were more efficient increasing the phosphorus content in a sandy soil.

Keywords:

• Elemental sulfur
• reactive phosphate
• TSP
• gypsum and Saccharum spp

Acknowledgments

This study is part of the doctoral thesis of the first author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU) and by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.