In agricultural soils receiving sewage sludge and subjected to water erosion, may occur intense transport of phosphorus (P) to the lower parts of the landscape and eventually to water bodies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of P in an Oxisol cultivated with maize. The treatments were evaluated with application of mineral fertilization (MF) and sewage sludge (SS). Soil samples were collected following a sampling grid of 69 points in each treatment at the beginning and at the end of the crop cycle, in an experimental area with 10% slope. There was a moderate spatial dependence of P in the soil in the treatment of MF, resulting in higher concentrations of P in the deeper layers of the soil caused by erosion. The same standard was observed for the soil attributes sum of bases, cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter. Conversely, when SS was applied there was a randomized distribution of P in the plots because of the non-uniform manner of its application. Such random distribution of P showed correlation with soil organic matter.
organic residue; soil erosion; fertilization
