Use of Soil Remineralizer to Replace Conventional Fertilizers: Effects on Soil Fertility, Enzymatic Parameters, and Soybean and Sorghum Productivity

Letícia Nayara Fuzaro Rodrigues, Wander Luis Barbosa Borges, Viviane Cristina Modesto, Naiane Antunes Alves Ribeiro, Nelson Câmara de Souza (), Vitória Almeida Moreira Girardi, Aline Marchetti Silva Matos, Bárbara Pereira Christofaro Silva, Fernando Shintate Galindo and Marcelo Andreotti
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Letícia Nayara Fuzaro Rodrigues: Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FEIS, Ilha Solteira 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Wander Luis Barbosa Borges: Advanced Research Center for Rubber Tree and Agroforestry Systems, Agronomic Institute (IAC), Votuporanga 15505-970, SP, Brazil
Viviane Cristina Modesto: Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FEIS, Ilha Solteira 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Naiane Antunes Alves Ribeiro: Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FEIS, Ilha Solteira 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Nelson Câmara de Souza: Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FEIS, Ilha Solteira 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Vitória Almeida Moreira Girardi: Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FEIS, Ilha Solteira 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Aline Marchetti Silva Matos: Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FEIS, Ilha Solteira 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Bárbara Pereira Christofaro Silva: Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FEIS, Ilha Solteira 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Fernando Shintate Galindo: Department of Plant Production, College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FCA, Dracena 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Marcelo Andreotti: Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University—UNESP-FEIS, Ilha Solteira 17900-000, SP, Brazil

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: The reliance on soil acidity correctives and mineral fertilizers poses a threat to food production due to the finite nature of these resources and their susceptibility to price volatility from importation. Soil remineralizers have emerged as a sustainable alternative. This study assessed silicate agrominerals as soil remineralizers to replace limestone, gypsum, and conventional fertilizers in a no-tillage system. Conducted in a tropical climate on sandy/medium-textured Ultisol, twelve treatments (combinations of liming, gypsum, mineral fertilization, and remineralizer) were tested for their effects on soybean and sorghum agronomic traits. Applying a remineralizer at 2500 kg ha −1 enhanced soybean productivity by 15% and sorghum by 35% in succession, along with increases in P, S, Ca, Mg, sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (V%) in the 0–0.20 m layer and organic matter in the 0–0.40 m layer, benefiting soil microbiological parameters, with the treatment combining all four products improving soil fertility; however, for better crop productivity, split applications appear to be an alternative to avoid nutrient imbalance. Due to the finer particle size of the remineralizer, which allows faster nutrient release, further research is recommended to investigate the long-term impacts on soil microbiota dynamics, optimal doses and combinations, and economic viability across various soil types and climates.

Keywords: nutritional balance; fertility; microbial activity; Glycine max; remineralizers; silicon; Sorghum bicolor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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