Productive Potential and Economic Viability of Soybeans in Response to Potassium Application

Marina Silveira Batista,Carla Michelle Da Silva,Rosilene De Morais Da Silva,Lariza Lustosa De Oliveira,Fabio Mielezrski,Antônio Veimar Da Silva

doi:10.5296/jas.v8i3.16558

Abstract

The objective of this study was to find the best potassium dose to increase soybean yield, taking into account the economic viability of the crop in the studied region. Sixteen treatments of the interaction between potassium doses (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1) and application times (sowing, vegetative stage (V3), vegetative stage V3 + reproductive stage (R1) and reproductive stage). The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Plant growth and production characteristics were analyzed and a preliminary analysis of variance was applied to check the significance of the interactions for each characteristic by Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Subsequently, the regression analysis was performed using SAS software (2013). The economic analysis was made using the Monte Carlo methodology (Lima, 2008), and processed with the software @Risk 7 (PALISADE, 2016). Potassium fertilization was positive with increase in yield, but there was no direct relation with the application period. The 109 KCl ha-1 dose provided greater economic viability in soybean cultivation.

Highlights

Merrill) is one of the most cultivated crops in the world and is highly important for the Brazilian agribusiness with prospects for increased production. Such perspective is due to the large extension of arable land in the Cerrado, especially in the North and Northeast regions of the country (GAVIOLI, 2012)
For the growth traits of soybean, there was no statistical significance for the dose x application time interaction
The economic analysis of soybean cultivation showed a grain yield of 2295 kg ha-1, obtained by applying 109.9 kg KCl ha-1, 2020, Vol 8, No 3 while the control presented a yield of 1231.4 kg ha-1, which accounted for around 86.5% more grain yield than the control. These results are related to the adequate supply of K, since it increases the efficiency in the uptake and use of nutrients such as nitrogen, due to the development of a strong and healthy root system, providing higher yield with lower production costs (IPI, 2013)

Summary

Introduction

Merrill) is one of the most cultivated crops in the world and is highly important for the Brazilian agribusiness with prospects for increased production Such perspective is due to the large extension of arable land in the Cerrado, especially in the North and Northeast regions of the country (GAVIOLI, 2012). Inadequate management of K can directly affect plant performance (SRINIVASARAO et al, 2016), as stomatal opening and closing becomes slower, which implies a more pronounced result of water deficit (SERAFIM et al, 2012) It causes inhibition of soybean plant photosynthesis, slower plant growth, poorly developed roots, lighter seeds and reduced yield (WANG, 2015). The goal of this study was to analyze the management of doses and times of application of potassium and the economic viability of soybean crop in the study region

Material and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions