The application of silicates to soils can result in increased soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), displace anions, especially H2PO4- (diacid phosphate), neutralize the pH and Al toxicity and, in general, increase the nutrient availability to plants. However, calcium silicates may be less efficient than calcium carbonates. To evaluate the effect of calcium carbonate substitution by calcium silicate on the soil chemical properties, especially on phosphorus availability, four experiments were conducted in an entirely randomized design with four replications, in a greenhouse. The treatments consisted of five levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 %) of calcium carbonate substitution by calcium silicate, with a 4:1 Ca:Mg stoichiometric and the same amount of CaO, enough to reach a 60 % base saturation. The treatments were applied to 4 dm³ samples of a sandy orthic Quartzarenic Neosol (Quartzpsament), a sandy loam dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol), sandy clay loam dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol) and a clayey dystrophic Red Latosol (Oxisol); each soil represented one experiment. The pH values in H2O, P, phosphorus in the equilibrium solution (P-rem), K, Ca, Mg, Si, Al, H + Al, organic matter (OM), Cu, Mn, Zn and B, sum of bases (S), effective (t) ant total (T) CEC, base saturation (V) and Al saturation (m) were submitted to analysis of variance and simple regression models fitted as a function of CaCO3 substitution by CaSiO3 levels. It was observed that carbonate substitution by silicate promoted significant increases in the values of Si, Al, H + Al and m and reduction in the values of P-rem, pH, S, t and V. The values of Mehlich 1 P, K, Mg, OM, T, Mn, Cu, and B were not influenced significantly. A reduction in Zn availability was verified in the dystrophic orthic Quartzarenic Neosol only. Calcium silicate was less efficient than calcium carbonate in the improvement of soil chemical conditions.
Si x P competition; phosphorus adsorption; aluminum saturation; nutrient availability
