Aloe vera L. Gel as a biostimulant and phosphorus solubilizer in an Andisol
Keywords:
Sustainable agriculture, allophanes, bioactives, combined fertilization, soilsAbstract
Background: The severe limitation of phosphorus (P) in Andisols, attributed to its high fixation capacity by amorphous colloids, drives the search for alternatives to improve its availability. Objective: This study evaluated the potential of Aloe vera L. gel as a biostimulant and P solubilizing agent in an Andisol. Methodology: A 21-day incubation trial with seven treatments was conducted to determine the dynamics of P accumulation extracted with Mehlich-1. A 45-day biological experiment in pots with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) was also conducted under a Completely Randomized Design, with seven treatments and three replicates. These treatments included increasing doses of gel (20–100 mL kg⁻¹) combined with direct soil fertilization (0-46-0 and urea at 100 kg ha⁻¹). Results: The results showed that the gel did not have a significant or linear effect on phosphorus (P) availability, nor did it promote increases in sorghum shoot or root biomass; however, it acted as an important source of potassium (K), significantly increasing its concentration in the soil (up to 320 ppm in treatment T1). Conclusion:
Aloe vera gel is not effective for solubilizing P in highly phosphorus-fixing Andisols under the evaluated conditions. Its application should be explored in soils with lower phosphorus retention capacity.
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