This study was conducted under greenhouse conditions at 'Centro de Ciências Agrárias' of 'Universidade Federal da Paraíba', located in Areia, PB, Brazil. The main objective was to evaluate the effect of four doses of phosphorus (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 of P2O5), and of four levels of available soil water (20, 40, 60 and 80%) on some characteristics of corn (Zea mays L.) crop. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block using a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, with three replications. The experimental unit was represented by a plastic recipient with 9 kg of soil of the superficial layer (0 - 20 cm) of Oxisol. The analysis of variance showed significant effect (p < 0.01) for the phosphorus treatments as well as for the levels of the available soil water on total dry biomass of the aerial parts, evapotranspiration and the phosphorus content of the dry biomass. The necessity of a minimal value of 40% of available soil water for the corn crop was observed to obtain the response of phosphorus doses applied to soil. A significant effect (p < 0.01) of the interaction between phosphorus and available water on phosphorus content in the biomass of aerial part of the crop was also notable.
evapotranspiration; biomass; response curve
