OPTIMIZATION OF PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY IN PLINTOSOL AND LATOSOL: COMBINED ACTION OF REMINERALIZER AND SOLUBILIZING BACTERIAPhosphate fertilization, rock dust, tropical soils, solubilizing bacteria
Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development; however, its availability in tropical soils is often limited by their high adsorption and fixation capacity, especially in Oxisols and Plinthosols. Furthermore, P sources are non-renewable natural resources, and the inappropriate use of phosphate fertilizers can become an environmental problem. In this context, alternatives such as the use of remineralizers associated with phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria have been studied aiming at agronomic and environmental efficiency in fertilization. This study aimed to evaluate the availability of P in Oxisols and Plinthosols under different land uses (native vegetation, agriculture, and pasture) after the application of a phosphate remineralizer, alone and in association with Bacillus megaterium. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, in a 2 × 3 × 6 factorial scheme, with four replications, totaling 144 experimental units. After 60 days of incubation, available phosphorus was determined by the Mehlich-1 method. Both P doses and soil classes showed significant effects on P availability. The Plinthosol showed the greatest increases, especially at the higher doses of the remineralizer. In the Oxisol, the increases were moderate, reflecting a greater capacity for P fixation in this soil. There was no significant effect of inoculation with B. megaterium. It is concluded that the efficiency of the remineralizer depends on the dose applied, as well as the physicochemical characteristics of the soil.