Hydrogel, liming and fertilizing in early development, survival and nutritional composition of eucalyptus hybrid plants

Abstract

With the premise that use of hydrogel associated with liming and fertilization in eucalyptus plantations increases water retention and nutrient content in the soil, this work aimed to evaluate the survival and early development of the hybrid Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus camaldulensis when using hydrogel, liming and fertilization. In Ultisol, the treatments were: 1) control, 2) hydrogel, 3) conventional fertilization, 4) fertilizer + lime, 5) fertilizer + hydrogel and 6) fertilizer + lime + hydrogel. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design, with six replications and six plants per plot. We evaluated height, diameter, survival, macronutrient content in shoot and soil chemical properties. The hydrogel + fertilization treatment provided bigger height and diameter at 240 days after transplant, however, the survival was higher in fertilization treatment. The results indicate the viability of the hydrogel use. However but more studies are needed to prove its effects and recommendation of appropriate dosages.