Phosphorus fertilization and ways of phosphate fertilizers application are important factors considering crop management. This study aimed at assessing the effect of phosphorus rates and phosphate fertilizers application forms on growth and phosphorus uptake of cowpea plants cropped on cerrado soil in the State of Roraima, Brazil. An experiment took place under field conditions, on a Yellow Latosol, at Cauamé Campus of Roraima's Federal University, located in the municipality of Boa Vista/RR. The experimental design was split-plot, in a completely randomized blocks, with three replicates. The plots consisted of the following phosphoric fertilizers application forms: a) broadcasting; b) single furrow and c) double furrow. Sub-plots corresponded to phosphorus doses: 0, 0,5; 1,0; 1,5, and 2,0 times the recommended dose for cowpea maintenance fertilization (60 kg ha-1 of P2O5). There was a significant effect of P rates over plant growth and plant uptake. Application of fertilizer in double furrows promoted higher plant growth, grain yield, and plant phosphorous uptake.
Single superphosphate; phosphorus uptake; cerrado
