4.7 Article

The Role of Phosphate Fertilization on Physiological Responses of the Young Bertholletia excelsa Plants Grown in a P-Deficient Amazon Ferralsol

Journal

PLANTS-BASEL
Volume 11, Issue 21, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/plants11212955

Keywords

ecophysiology; functional traits; nutrient use efficiency; plant nutrition; plasticity

Categories

Funding

  1. Amazonas State Research Support Foundation (FAPEAM, Brazil)
  2. National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil) [308373/2019-7]
  3. project Pro-Amazonia [52/2012]
  4. Coordination for the Improvement of Higher-Level Personnel (CAPES, Brazil) [001]

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The addition of phosphorus to the substrate can improve the morpho-physiological traits of Brazil nut trees in Amazonian soils, leading to increased growth and photosynthetic efficiency.
Phosphorus (P) reacts with soil minerals, which makes it less available to plants. Considering that Amazonian soils have a low pH and nutrient availability, both of these properties contribute to an increase in P limitation. Here, we investigate how the addition of P to the substrate affects morpho-physiological traits of Brazil nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with 24-month-old saplings, and the P treatments consisted of a control (Ferrasol without P addition) and 100, 200, 400, and 500 mg P kg(-1) of added to the soil. When B. excelsa saplings were fertilized with phosphate, the N:P leaf ratio reduced from 50 to 26. Addition of P favored the photochemical efficiency of PSII (F-V/F-M), and the application of 200 mg kg(-1) increased photosynthesis (P-N) by 50%. Furthermore, phosphorus enhanced light and nutrient use efficiency. An increase in B. excelsa dry biomass was observed when 200 mg P kg(-1) was added, with maximum yield occurring at 306.2 mg P kg(-1). Physiological parameters suggest robust responses by B. excelsa to P fertilization. In addition, our findings reveal the critical role of P on B. excelsa growth in Ferralsol, as well as the potential of P fertilization to improve functional traits of this important Amazonian tree.

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