Response of Pinus taeda to ash from plant biomass in Cambissolo Humico in pots

Abstract

The aim of this work was to measure the effect of ash, collected from  the boiler of a pulp mill and applied in doses equivalent to 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 t.ha-1 on the chemical characteristics of the soil and on the development and absorption of nutrients for Pinus taeda L. seedling potted with CAMBISSOLO Humico from the 0-20 cm layer in Piraí do Sul, PR. Portions of the soil were placed in pots and aliquots of each treatment were applied to the first 0-10 cm layer after filled the pots with 20 cm of soil. Needles and soil (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm layers) were analyzed. The height, diameter and dried biomass of aerial part, the root - MSR and total were evaluated. The application of ash reduced the acidity and the concentration of Al, and increased the concentration of Ca, Mg, K, P, with more pronounced effects in the layer of 0-10 cm; there was no effect of treatment in the development of seedlings; and the concentration of Cu in needles was declined with increasing doses of ash.