Basaltic rocks have chemical and mineralogical composition that allows its agricultural application due to its capability of improving soil fertility. The aim in this work was to evaluate the effect of levels of finely crushed basalt rock in soil chemical conditioning. A dystrophic Yellow Latosol from pre-weathered Boa Vista Formation was used. The rock of the Apoteri formation was collected in the mine of Nova Olinda near Boa Vista. The treatments consisted of the incorporation and incubation of eight rock powder levels (0; 0.85; 1.70; 3.35; 5.03; 10.05; 20.40 and 40.80 g kg-1). The experimental design was entirely randomly with eight treatments and three replicates. After the incorporation of the rushed rock powder for a period 180 days of soil incubation, the soil was analyzed and determined the values of Ca2+, Mg2+, pH in H2O, pH in KCl, Al3+, H+ Al, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn. The level of 20.40 g kg-1 of basalt provided the maxim reduction of the active acidity, varying from 4.8 to 5.5. Concentrations of exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ increased, but their increments in the soil solution was small. Basalt levels presented high efficiency for neutralization of the potential acidity. Amendments with crushed rock increased extractable amounts of Zn, Fe and Cu in soil, after incubation.
soil fertility; acidity; crushed rock
