CALIBRATION OF PHOSPHORUS EXTRACTION METHODS IN SOILS CULTIVATED UNDER NO-TILLAGE

The change of cultivation, systems from conventional to no-tillage, the change in soil sampling depth and the higher crop yields over time call influence the critical P content, fertility ranges and fertilizer doses recommended for crops. The objective of this work was to calibrate the soil P tests, Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and anion-exchange (AER) resin for soybean, wheat and corn plants cultivated under no-tillage system, and to estimate the P fertilizer amounts for a maximum economic yield. For this purpose soil samples and yield results from several experiments under no-till and different P doses, conducted by institutions of education, research and extension of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The calibration curves were fitted using non-linear model functions, and the levels of soil fertility and fertilizer doses for a maximum economic yield were inferred. Results indicate that the average increases in cot-it, wheat and soybean yields were 47.1, 12.4 and 7.2 kg ha(-1) kg(-1) P2O5, respectively; the determination coefficients between the relative yield and soil P concentrations were higher when. the soils were separated by texture classes and were highest in the 0-10 cm than the 0-20 cm layer; the critical values of P, based on Mehlich-1 were 7.5; 15.0 and 21.0 mg kg(-1) in the 0-20 cm layer, and of 16.0, 28.0 and 40.0 mg kg(-1) in the 0-10 cm layer in the clay classes 1, 2 and 3, respectively; P fertility ranges were wider by Mehlich-3 and AER as compared to Mehlich-1; the quantities P fertilizer were higher for soybean and corn when compared to the currently recommended quantities. The critical P concentrations are higher ill soils under no-tillage with soybean, wheat and corn in the 0-20 as well as the 0-10 cm layer; the fertility ranges by resin and Mehlich-3 were wider than by Mehlich-1; the fertilizer P quantities are higher for soybean and cot-it grown under no-tillage.