Nutrient dynamics with application of humic substances and liming in irrigated soil filled columns

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the retention of P, K, Ca and Mg nutrients, as well as pH and electrical conductivity in Oxisols. Soil samples were placed into columns, with addition of humic substances (soil with and without liming). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and the columns consisted of PVC tubes with 40 cm height x 5 cm diameter. The humic substances used were humic acid and fulvic acid, applied at rates of 0, 60, 120 and 240 L ha-1, in soil with or without lime. Ten irrigation events were performed, simulating 32 mm rainfall. After that, samples were collected from the columns, at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths, to identify the residual effect of the addition of humic substances. A completely randomized design was used for this experiment, with 2×2×4 factorial statistical model and 3 replications. The results showed that, under acidic soil conditions, the use of fulvic acid provides more significant P release (up to 40%) in soil when compared to humic acid. When the rate of 240 L ha-1 is applied, the fulvic acid can release up to 83% of P in the soil.