Soil Fertilization and Texture on Boron Accumulation and Wood Volume in Corymbia citriodora (Hook) K.D. Hill & L.A.S Johnson

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of soil fertilization and texture on leaf Boron (B) accumulation and its relation with wood volume of Corymbia citriodora Hill & Johnson. The experiment was set in randomized block with four replications, four B fertilization levels (0, 1.1, 2.2 and 4.4 g.plant-1) in two soils types (sandy and clayey). To determine leaf B content, 25 leaves were collected from the median portion of four trees for each treatment. Leaves were dried on oven and B content was determined by the Azomethine-H method using extract obtained by dry digestion. The diameter at breast height and the total height of 25 trees were collected in all treatments and wood volume was calculated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means adjusted to regression equations. The regression coefficients were evaluated by t-test at 1 and 5% probability. It was verified that clay soil produces more wood, compared to sandy soil. There was a gain increase in foliar B as B doses increased in both soil types. Leaf B affected Corymbia citriodora productivity only in clay soil.