Chemical constraints to initial growth of Eucalyptus saligna in sandy soils of Pampa Gaúcho: A case study

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the main soil chemical attributes that constrains the Eucalyptus saligna growth in no-limed plantations at the southwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul state, as well as to determine the threshold values of each attribute. Forest plantations from two Oxisols and one Quartzipsamment were evaluated. Correlation analysis (P<0.05) between soil chemical attributes and plant growth variables indicated that the most constraining soil attributes were the Al saturation, bases saturation and exchangeable Mg content, whose decrease in plant growth was up to 50%. Subsurface soil attributes (20–40cm depth) had closer relation with plant growth than surface soil ones (0-20cm). The average threshold values for achieving 80% of the relative yield capacity in diameter growth of trunks and in volume were 79% for Al saturation, 8.3% for bases saturation and 0.3 cmolc dm-3 for exchangeable Mg. The results evidenced that liming should not be suppressed in eucalypt plantations on acid soils at south Brazilian Pampa and that the required amount of lime seem to be smaller than that currently recommended.