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Physiological and yield response in maize in cohesive tropical soil is improved through the addition of gypsum and leguminous mulch

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2020

E. G. Moura Open the ORCID record for E. G. Moura [Opens in a new window] ,
P. D. Hallett ,
S. J. Mooney ,
F. R. Silva ,
V. R. A. Macedo  and
A. C. F. Aguiar
E. G. Moura*
Affiliation:
State University of Maranhao, Agroecology Program, Sao Luis, Maranhao, 65054-970, Brazil
P. D. Hallett
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
S. J. Mooney
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leics, LE12 5RD, UK
F. R. Silva
Affiliation:
State University of Maranhao, Agroecology Program, Sao Luis, Maranhao, 65054-970, Brazil
V. R. A. Macedo
Affiliation:
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Piauí, Campus Uruçuí – Rodovia PI 247, Km 7, S/N, Portal do Cerrado, Uruçuí 64860-000, Brazil
A. C. F. Aguiar
Affiliation:
Biology Department, Federal University of Maranhao, Sao Luis, Maranhao, 65080-805, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: E. G. Moura, E-mail: egmoura@elointernet.com.br
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Abstract

Tropical soils tend to harden during drying due to the generally low content of free-iron and organic carbon, combined with high fine sand and silt proportions. It was hypothesized that the change in soil physical condition induced by the addition of a leguminous mulch in cohesive tropical soil enriched with calcium may mitigate soil hardening through wetting and drying cycles by rain or irrigation, thereby improving the soil rootability. A leguminous mulch was added in different concentrations to a structurally fragile tropical soil enriched with calcium, which then had different irrigation intervals. The treatments were with or without mulch (10 t/ha), with or without added nitrogen (100 kg/ha at 2 intervals) and two irrigation intervals. In 2015 the irrigation intervals were either 4 or 8 days, and in 2016 they were either 6 or 9 days. Two years were used in the attempt to achieve greater differences, as for tested variables, between treatments. Maize planted in these soil treatments was measured for physiological performance, water use efficiency and yield. Mulch used on structurally fragile tropical soil enriched with calcium was found to delay increased penetration resistance from hardening by wet/dry cycles. In this context, an improved soil rootability led to an enlargement of the leaf area index, greater nitrogen uptake and increased CO2 assimilation. This had important physiological consequences due to the positive effect on increased dry matter production and maize yield. In addition, these results suggested that mulch, used with urea, can delay the water supply for 3 or 4 days due to improvements in soil rootability caused by calcium and organic matter interactions. This may be crucial to a region where small intervals without rain are increasingly common due to global climate change. Therefore, due to a greater water use efficiency, this strategy may be a profitable way to increase crop productivity in tropical conditions rather than increasing water and nutrient application alone.

Keywords

Irrigation intervalsleguminousnitrogensoil strengthwater stressZea mays L
Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 158 , Issue 1-2 , March 2020 , pp. 57 - 64
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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