Estudo em pequenas parcelas sobre a fertilização do capim-gordura, Melinis minutiflora Pal de Beauv

Resumo

A small-plot experiment was conducted in a massape soil type, 18% steep, with pH 5.1., in order to study the response of Molasses-grass (Melinis minutiflora, Pal de Beauv) to the three levels (0, 1 and 2) of: nitrogen, potash, phosphorus, sulfur and liming, respectively applied as: sodium nitrate orurea, common superphosphate, potassium chloride, gyppsum and lime.

A latin square with a split plot feature was the ex- perimental design used, in which the main plot corresponded to one of the tive elements under study, while in the sub-plot itwas applied the three levels of elementbesides the other four elements at their maximum levels.

Since the pasture was already growing by the time the experiment was initiated, all the fertilizers were broadcasted as a top-dressing.

The results indicated big increase in herbage yield of molasses grass due tothe potash fertilization, but,no favorable effect due to nitrogen application could be observed.

The application of the first increment of P205 also resulted in increased yield, but the second increment of P2O5 seemed to be harmful,as lower yield of green forage was then obtained.

Liming, in the levels studied, raised the soil pH of 3 to 4 tenths of a pH unit. At the conditions of the experiments no answer could be observed to the sulfur fertilization.