Nutritional Efficiency and Nutrient Acumulation of Maize Cultivated in Soils With High Al-KCl Content

Most Brazilian soils are weathered and acidic, generally with exchangeable aluminum levels toxic to plants. Aluminum content can exceed 10 cmolc kg-1 in certain soils, but does not interfere in plant nutrient absorption, transport and accumulation. This study aimed to assess whether the high aluminum levels extracted with 1 mol L-1 KCl solution affect the nutritional efficiency of maize plants grown in acidic soils in areas of Brazilian states (AC: profile 9, PE, SC and RS) never before cultivated. To that end, two greenhouse experiments were performed (soybean: 45 days and maize: 60 days) with increasing levels of lime (0; 25; 50 and 100% H+Al content). After the experiments and collection, chemical analyses were conducted to characterize the soils and determine the chemical composition of the maize plants. The Al levels did not interfere in maize plants, nutrient absorption, transport, use or accumulation in AC9 and Rosario do Sul (RS) soils, but did affect those cultivated in PE, BR and CB soils in treatments without lime. The absence of Al toxicity is related to the increased concentration and activity of basic cations and P in the soil solution.