The most commonly studied phosphorus fertilizer placements in maize crop are scattering and furrow - localized. However, double furrow intermediary application is also possible, and may increase the fertilized soil fraction and fertilization efficiency. This research was carried out to evaluate the effects of fertilizer placement and doses of phosphorus fertilizer under maintainance fertilization of a corn crop, in a Dark-Red Latosol, in Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba (MG, Brazil), from October 1995 to April 1996. The treatments consisted of the following fertilizer placements (triple superphosphate): broadcasting, single furrow and double furrow and the following doses of 0; 45.0; 67.5; 90.0; 112.5 and 135.0 kg ha-1 of P2O5. Doses of P were estimated based on 0; 0.50; 0.75; 1.00; 1.25; 1.50 time the dose reccomended for maitainance fertilization, 90 kg ha-1 of P2O5. It was found out that the use of increasing P doses increased corn grain yield; the phosphorus fertilizer placements in single furrows and double furrows were more efficient than broadcasting; double furrow application was the most oustanding mode of placement; foliar P content varied from 2.1 to 2.4; 2.1 to 2.7 and from 2.1 to 2.9 g kg-1, respectively, for broadcasting, single furrows and double furrows. Corn yield increased from 0.45 to 3.04 t ha-1 for single furrows and from 0.21 to 4.4 t ha-1 for double furrows.
fertilization placements; triple superphosphate; single furrow; double furrow; scattering; cerrado