NUTRIENTS ACCUMULATION AND EXPORTATION BY COTTON PLANT WITH PHOSPHORUS SPLIT APPLICATION

The interaction between phosphorus (P) and soil constituents may hinder the correction of its deficiency. This work aimed to study the effect of P split application over the accumulation, nutrients exportation, and productivity of irrigated cotton in the Quartzanic Neossoil. The experiment was carried out in the northern region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from November 2008 to April 2009. The treatments consisted of six application forms of 60 kg ha(-1) P2O5 dose and a treatment without P. The application forms were traditional and in installments. They were applied at sowing and covering, 35 after day emergency (DAE) respectively 80% + 20%, 60% + 40%, and 40% + 60% of P2O5 dose via granulated triple superphosphate. There was still assessing the application of 60% of P dose via granulated triple superphosphate at sowing and 40% at coverage via phosphate monoammonium or via triple powder superphosphate. At DAE 50, P content was higher with applications in installments, 60% of dose at sowing and 40% at coverage via phosphate monoammonium or 40% of dose at sowing and 60% at coverage via granulated triple superphosphate. Phosphorus split application did not affect the nutrients accumulation at DAE 80, neither nutrients exportation by cotton as compared to traditional sowing application. The split application of phosphorus fertilization did not increase the productivity of seed cotton and it was reduced when 40% dose at sowing and in 60% at coverage were applied via granulated triple superphosphate.