Potencial do uso agrícola de pó de rocha no cultivo de alface

Abstract

Soil quality degradation and decreased fertility are growing concerns in agriculture. The intensive use of chemical fertilizers can bring negative consequences for the environment and especially human health. In this context, rock dust emerges as a sustainable and low environmental impact option to improve soil fertility. The application of rock powder can improve soil attributes over time and consequently improve soil quality. The application of rock dust can improve soil attributes over time and consequently improve soil quality. To test this hypothesis, an experiment was installed with the application of basalt rock powder in two different soils with the cultivation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa). In order to evaluate the changes in soil chemical attributes and lettuce productivity. The experiment consisted of the application of five doses of rock powder (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 Mg ha-1) and a treatment with mineral fertilization (NPK formulation), with 4 replicates of each treatment. After the development of lettuce were evaluated the chemical attributes of soil and plant. In the soil were evaluated levels of pH, phosphorus and potassium, and in the chemical attributes of the plant were evaluated levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The use of mineral fertilization showed higher fresh and dry mass of lettuce, while the doses of rock powder did not differ from the control treatment (dose 0). The use of rock powder did not alter the contents of P and K in the soil and in the plant, which may be due to the short cycle culture and the release of nutrients present in the rock powder is slow.