Data for: Potential of root acid phosphatase activity to reduce phosphorus fertilization in maize cultivated in Brazil

Potential of root acid phosphatase activity to reduce phosphorus fertilization in maize cultivated in Brazil
It is urgent to mitigate the environmental impacts resulting from agriculture, especially in highly biodiverse and threatened areas, as the Brazilian Cerrado. We aim to investigate whether root acid phosphatase activity is an alternative plant strategy for nutrient acquisition in maize genotypes cultivated under fertilized and unfertilized conditions in Brazil, potentially contributing to reducing the use of phosphate fertilizers needed for production. Three experiments were performed: the first was conducted in a glasshouse, with 17 experimental maize inbred lines and two phosphorus (P) treatments; the second in the field, with three maize inbred lines and two treatments, one without fertilization and another with NPK fertilization; and the third was also carried out in the field, with 13 commercial hybrids, grown either under NK or under NPK treatment. Plant variables were meas..., Glasshouse study
A glasshouse study was conducted from August to October 2018 in Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State, Brazil (20°25’04.77’’S 51°20’30.65’’W, 375 m elevation). We used 3.5 L pots filled with 3.2 kg dry soil of 2 mm-sieved Cerrado soil (dystrophic Red Latosol – Oxisol) [27]. From seeds, seventeen genotypes were cultivated under each of two treatments (control – only distilled water added, or P fertilization – 768 mg sodium phosphate (Na2HPO4), equivalent to 200 mg.P.kg-1 soil, as suggested by Novais et al. [28]), in three replicates, in a total of 102 pots. These inbred lines were chosen because they are experimental genotypes developed at São Paulo State University (UNESP – Campus of Ilha Solteira) and are potential candidates for a future breeding program (S1 Table).
In the 9-leaf stage of the plants, the pot was removed, and the roots were collected and washed first with tap water and then with distilled water. We then evaluated rPME activity, plant height, number of leaves,..., , # Data for: Potential of root acid phosphatase activity to reduce phosphorus fertilization in maize cultivated in Brazil

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ngf1vhj19](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ngf1vhj19)

## Description of the data and file structure

The file attached contains four worksheets that correspond to the three experiments described in the manuscript and a soil data worksheet.

**List of abbreviations**

| **Acronyms** | **Meaning** | **Units** |
| -------- | ------- | ----- |
| N | Nitrogen in the soil | g.kg-1 |
| P - resin | Resin - Phosphorus in the soil | mg.dm-3 |
| MO | Organic matter in the soil | g.dm-3 |
| pH | Soil pH | CaCl2 |
| K | Potassium in the soil | mmolc.dm-3 |
| Ca | Calcium in the soil | mmolc.dm-3 |
| Mg | Magnesium in soil | mmolc.dm-3 |
| H+Al | Soil acidity potential | mmolc.dm-3 |
| Al | Aluminum in soil | mmolc.dm-3 |
| SB | Soil base sum | mmolc.dm-3 |
| CTC | Soil cation exchange capacity | mmolc.dm-3 |
| CEC | Soil cation exchange capacity | mm...