Liming and application of micronutrients in the establishment of Tifton pasture

Abstract

Tifton pastures (Cynodon spp.) are widely used in tropical regions of Brazil, but are relatively recent in sub-tropical soils of southern Brazil. The objective of this work was to evaluate the Tifton response to liming and fertilization with copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) in the pasture establishment in the state of Santa Catarina. The experi­ment was installed in a Rhodic Ferralsol, in a randomized block design with subdivided plots. The treatments consisted of limestone doses in the main plots and application or non-application of Cu, Zn and B in the subplots. The doses tested were 4.25 t ha^-1 limestone (half the recommended dose to raise the pH (H₂O) to 5.5); 8.5 t ha^-1 (dose to raise the pH (H₂O) to 5.5); 11.9 t ha^-1 (dose to raise the pH (H₂O) to 6.0) and 15.7 t ha^-1 (dose to raise the pH (H₂O) to 6.5), in addition to a treatment without limestone application (control). Micronutrients Cu (CuSO₄), Zn (ZnSO₄) and B (borax) were applied, respectively, at the doses of 2.0, 2.0 and 1.0 kg ha^-1. In the Tifton establish­ment, limestone application decreased the values of Al and Cu and increased the values of Ca, Mg, pH and soil base saturation. The limestone application in the soil increased the dry matter production of Tifton up to the dose of 8.5 t ha^-1, regardless of the application of micronutrients.