SOIL NUTRIENTS AND MOISTURE AFTER INCORPORATING BIOCHAR IN AN Eucalyptus benthamii FOREST/NUTRIENTES E UMIDADE DO SOLO APOS A INCORPORACAO DE BIOCARVAO EM UM PLANTIO DE Eucalyptus benthamii

The objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritional and moisture conditions of a soil cultivated with Eucalyptus benthamii, in which it was used biochar coming from the fast pyrolysis of a mixture of native species of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest in the preparation of the pre-planting. The study was developed in an experimental area of the State University of the Center-West located in Irati, Parana state. Four doses of biochar, 0, 10, 20 and 40 Mg [ha.sup.-1], with and without mineral fertilization of 340 Kg [ha.sup.-1] of NPK with 14 Kg N, 48 Kg [P.sub.2][O.sub.5], 28 Kg [K.sub.2]O in formulation 4-14-8, in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Eucalyptus benthamii seedlings were planted in spacing 3 x 2 meters and, after 60 and 180 days, the following soil attributes were evaluated: pH, organic carbon, P, K, Ca, Mg, Al contents and soil moisture. The application of 40 Mg [ha.sup.-1] biochar with and without basic fertilization, caused an increase of pH and nutrients due to the ash content in the constitution of the conditioner, and an increase of the soil moisture. The application of biochar may become a positive practice in order to provide nutrients for the initial development of the crop. However, it is necessary to evaluate the effect of fertility according to the dose applied, since the availability of nutrients may decrease over time, leading to the need for cover fertilization, however in smaller amounts. Keywords: soil fertility; ash; Eucalyptus. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar as condicoes nutricionais e de umidade de um solo cultivado com Eucalyptus benthamii no qual se incorporou biocarvao oriundo da pirolise rapida de uma mistura de madeiras de especies nativas de Floresta Ombrofila Mista no preparo pre-plantio. O estudo foi desenvolvido em area experimental do Campus da Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste, localizada em Irati, Parana. Foram utilizadas quatro doses de biocarvao, 0, 10, 20 e 40 Mg [ha.sup.-1], com e sem adubacao mineral de 340 Kg [ha.sup.-1] de NPK com 14 Kg de N, 48 Kg de [P.sub.2][O.sub.5], 28 Kg de [K.sub.2]O no formulado 4-14-8, em delineamento em blocos ao acaso com quatro repeticoes. As mudas de Eucalyptus benthamii foram plantadas em espacamento 3 por 2 metros e apos 60 e 180 dias foram avaliados os seguintes atributos do solo: pH, carbono organico, teores de P, K, Ca, Mg, Al e a umidade do solo. A aplicacao de 40 Mg [ha.sup.-1] de biocarvao com e sem adubacao de base ocasionou aumento d