Abstract
The high demand for forest products in Brazil estimates a 2 million hectares increase in reforestation areas over the next 10 years, highlighting Eucalyptus species. However, these crops usually occur in acid soils that need correction to achieve high productivity. Besides limestone, lime mud, a residue from the cellulose industry, and gypsum can also be used as correctives, but there are doubts about doses and ways of application with the best results. Thus, were evaluated the soil chemical attributes, foliar nutrient content, and initial growth of a Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden crop in response to the application of limestone, lime mud, and gypsum in different doses and ways of applications, on a Humic Cambisol from Santa Catarina Plateau. The experiment was carried out with nine treatments in four replicates, where the evaluated parameters were determined up to 24 months after planting. In general, both limestone, lime mud, and gypsum, in different doses and ways of application, affected the chemical attributes of the soil but did not affect the foliar nutrient content at 12 months, height, and diameter at breast high (DBH) from trees and timber volume at 24 months. Gypsum do not correct soil acidity but lime mud provides similar results to limestone indicating that can substitute this corrective without damage to nutritional status and initial development of Eucalyptus dunnii.
Highlights
Brazil has a wide area covered by natural and planted forests
Most of the eucalyptus plantations in Santa Catarina occur in highlands, such as the Santa Catarina Plateau, where the soil has low pH, high content of exchangeable Al, and low contents of Ca and Mg, requiring a correction of soil acidity to provide better conditions for plant growth (ALMEIDA et al, 1999; SIMONETE et al, 2013)
Considering the information presented above, this study proposes to evaluate the pH, and the content of exchangeable cations in the soil, and nutrients in the leaves, as well as, the response of the dendrometric variables, such as height, diameter, volume, increments, and timber productivity during the initial growth of eucalyptus plantations in acid soil under different doses and ways of application of limestone, gypsum, and lime mud
Summary
Brazil has a wide area covered by natural and planted forests. From the total area with planted forests, 72% are represented by eucalyptus plantations, whose production stands out worldwide for the high yield, and competitiveness regarding production costs (GUIMARÃES et al, 2015). Several studies indicate an increase in productivity when using fertilizers and soil acidity correctives (CASTRO FARIA et al, 2015; VIEIRA; WEBER, 2017; RODRIGUES et al, 2016; MAEDA et al, 2015; GUIMARÃES et al, 2015). In the pulp and paper industry, many residues are generated, such as lime mud, a product of causticizing for recovery of cooking liquor This residue is mainly made up of Ca carbonate and has a great potential to increase the soil pH (SIMONETE et al, 2013). Considering the information presented above, this study proposes to evaluate the pH, and the content of exchangeable cations in the soil, and nutrients in the leaves, as well as, the response of the dendrometric variables, such as height, diameter, volume, increments, and timber productivity during the initial growth of eucalyptus plantations in acid soil under different doses and ways of application of limestone, gypsum, and lime mud
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call