RICE AND COMMON BEAN GROWTH AND NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION AS INFLUENCED BY ALUMINUM ON AN ACID LOWLAND SOIL

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limiting factor for crop production in many acid soils in Brazil. Two greenhouse experiments were conducte d to evaluate response of rice (Oryza saliva L.) and common bean (Phas eolus vulgaris L.) to Al levels on a Low Humic Gley acid soil. The Al levels created by liming were: 0, 0.03, 0.10, 0.23, 1.03, and 3.83 cmo l(c) kg(-1) of soil. Rice dry matter and grain yield were significantl y improved (P<0.05) with increasing Al levels in the soil solution. Ho wever, common bean dry matter as well as grain yield were significantl y (P<0.01) decreased with increasing Al levels. At 3.83 cmol(c) Al kg( -1) of soil, bean did not produce any dry matter or grain yield. On an average, Al decreased nutrient concentrations in the tops of rice pla nt except zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn), but in bean crop almost all th e nutrients concentrations were increased with increasing Al levels. R ice showed tolerance to Al toxicity, whereas, common bean was suscepti ble to toxicity of this element. For successful intensive crops produc tion lime application will be necessary in Varzea soils especially for legume production.