Response of ‘Sensação’ peach trees to phosphate fertilization

Abstract

Phosphorus is part of several organic compounds in plant metabolism such as nucleotides and phosphoproteins, in addition to participating in metabolism and energy storage. This study aimed to evaluate the response of peach trees cv. Sensação to phosphate fertilization and establish the critical level of this nutrient in soil and leaves. The experiment was conducted in the 2016 and 2017 cycles in a commercial orchard located in Morro Redondo, RS, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replications. Peach trees were fertilized with increasing doses of phosphorus (P) of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 kg ha?1 of P2O5 as triple superphosphate. In the two evaluated cycles, samples of soil at a depth of 0–20 cm and leaves were collected to determine mineral contents. The data were submitted to analysis of variance by the F test (P < 0.05), and when the effects were significant, regression equations were adjusted. P application increased the contents of this nutrient in the soil. Leaf P contents were not affected by fertilization, as well as productivity and yield components. Thus, the critical level of P in soil and peach leaves could not be established. In soils where P contents are classified as medium and high, there is no need to apply this nutrient.