NUTRITIONAL LIMITATIONS FOR INITIAL GROWT H OF 4 NATIVE WOODY SPECIESIN A RED-YELLOW LATOSOL

Through the ''missing element'' technique, the nutritional requirement s and limitations of the native woody species, canafistula [Senna mult ijuga (L.C. Rich) Irwin & Barneby], cedro (Cedrela fissilis Vellozo), pau-ferro (Coesalpinea ferrea Martius ex Tul. var. leiostachya Bentham ) and jacare [Piptadenia gonoacantha (Martius) MacBride] were evaluate d in a medium texture, cerrado phase, Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol) from Campos das Vertentes, MG, Brazil. This study was conducted during 170 days under greenhouse conditions at the Soil Science Department of th e Federal University of Lavras, MG, Brazil. The treatments consisted o f the control without addition of nutrients, complete fertilization wi th macronutrients and micronutrients (C) and omission of nutrients of the (C) treatment. PI high response of the species to complete fertili zation was observed. The dry matter production of canafistula, cedro, pau-ferro and jacare was increased in 67, 17, 82 and g fold, respectiv ely, over the non-fertilized control. The omission of N, P or S from t he (C) treatment resulted in great reduction of growth for the studied species, evidencing their requirement and soil limitations. In spite of the low K availability in the soil (15 mu g/g of soil), its omissio n did not reduce plant growth. Pau-ferro had its growth reduced by omi ssion of micronutrients. The growth of these species in the studied so il will be possible only if adequate N, P, and S fertilizers are suppl ied.