Acid whey as a source of nutrients for maize

This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the effect of acid whey on chemical attributes of soil, dry matter production and nutrient accumulation in the corn. The experiment was conducted in pots in the greenhouse, between February and May 2012, and the experimental design was in randomized blocks, and analysed in 5 x 2 factorial scheme with four replications. The treatments consisted of 5 doses of acid whey equivalent to 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 m(3) ha(-1), in the absence and presence of mineral fertilization with NPK and micronutrients. Portions of 6.4 dm(3) of soil were incubated with lime, and the doses of acid whey were applied 15 days before the end of incubation. In the treatments with mineral fertilizer, part of nutrients were applied in the incubation and the rest in hand weeding. After incubation the corn seeding was done and the experiment was carried out during 47 days. The application of acid whey to the soil increases the concentrations of available P and K+, increases the dry matter yield of corn and N, P, K and Ca accumulation in the aerial parts. The acid whey in doses of up to 200 m(3) ha(-1) must be used associated with mineral fertilization in maize cultivation.