An experiment was carried out at the Soil Science Department of Universidade Federal de Lavras, in Lavras (MG). in November 1998, to study the effect of aluminum on the initial growth of two forest species, under greenhouse conditions using a nutrient solution. After two weeks in dilute nutrient solution to 1/3 and without aluminum, two Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and two Angico (Anandenantha peregrina) plants were transplanted to 1.5 L pots, and grown in nutrient solution. The aluminum levels were 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 mg L-1, with pH 4.0 ± 0.2, adjusted daily during 70 days. Plant height was evaluated and plants were divided in aerial part and root, to determine dry matter and content of N and P. The increasing aluminum levels progressively reduced plant height and root dry matter production in both species, and the aerial part in the Angico plant. Nitrogen content in the Moringa plant reduced with increasing aluminum levels. Phosphorus content in the Moringa and Angico aerial parts reduced with aluminum levels above 5.0 mg L-1 in the nutrient solution.
moringa; angico; toxicity; nutrient solution