Gypsum and Phosphorus Influence the Initial Growth of Schinus Terebinthifolius Raddi

Abstract Because of the lack of agronomic information regarding cultivation of the pink pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), this study aimed to verify the effect of gypsum and phosphorus on the initial growth and how they affect soil fertility. The treatments consisted of four levels of agricultural gypsum (0; 750; 1,500, and 2,250 mg kg-1) and P2O5 (0; 41.7; 83.4, and 125.1 mg kg-1), with a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement, in a completely randomized design with four replications. Morphological variables and nutritional content taken at 165 days after transplant were shown to be adequate to assess the initial growth and to show their nutritional requirements, indicating that plants are responsive to phosphorus. The association of higher gypsum and P2O5 levels promoted higher plant vigor and their application to the soil increased the availability of calcium, phosphorus, and base saturation.