The experiment was conducted over two years to evaluate the residual effect of phosphate fertilizer application on the DM yield and the soil P critical levels for maintenance of elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Napier) crop. The experimental treatments were arranged according to a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial treatment combination of: two forms of P application (located on the bottom of the furrow or mixed with the soil in the furrow), two spacing of the planting lines (0.5 and 1.0 m) and five phosphorus levels. The phosphorus levels were: 0, 30, 60 100 and 150 kg/ha and 0, 60, 120, 200 and 300 kg/ha of P for the located and mixed application, respectively. The experimental design was a randomized complete blocks one, with three replications. Seven harvests were taken in the central lines of the plots, corresponding to 2 m². After weighing the harvested forage, samples were taken for DM contents determination. Soil samples were also collected along the planting lines after each harvest to establish phosphorus contents with Mehlich-1 extractor. After each harvest nitrogen and potassium fertilizers were broadcasted (67 kg/ha of N and K2O, as ammonium sulphate and potassium chloride, respectively). There was a residual phosphate fertilization effect on the elephantgrass dry matter yield over the two years experimental period. Plots planted at 0.5 m spacing reached higher forage yield. The fertilizer form of application did not influence forage yield. Soil phosphorus critical levels did not vary with harvesting sequence and reached higher values in plots planted to 1.0 m spacing and in those where the P fertilizer had been mixed with soil in the furrow, regardless of the spacing of planting.
dry matter; forage; phosphorus application form; spacing
