Avaliação de diferentes dosagens de gesso agrícola aplicadas à cultura do milho

Abstract

Corn is one of the world's major cereals grown in the world producing products because of the quantity and quality of reserves accumulated in grains that are used for human, animal and industrial purposes. However, although this crop is so important and one of the main crops to be grown in the country, Brazilian maize productivity is still low, due to factors related to soil fertility. To reduce the problems generated by the lack of nutrients for the corn crop as well as the toxicity caused by aluminum, researchers are studying the possibility of using gypsum during soil repair. Agricultural gypsum, a residual product of the phosphate fertilizer industry, has been used to correct Al toxicity and to raise Ca levels in the deeper layers of the soil. When applied together with limestone, the mixture decreases the content and increases the , Ca+², Mg+² and SO₄² levels both at the surface and in the deeper layers of the soil. Based on this information, this work carried out in Maringá-PR, has as main objective to evaluate 5 different dosages of agricultural gypsum to be supplied in a Dystrophic Latosol inthe corn crop. Through the analysis of variable responses such as productivity, stalk diameter, ear length, plant height and green mass produced, it was found that dosages above 1,600 kg ha -1 of gypsum provided significant increases in plant production.