Gypsum and Legume Residue as a Strategy to Improve Soil Conditions in Sustainability of Agrosystems of the Humid Tropics

Emanoel Gomes De Moura, Stefanny Barros Portela, Vinicius Ribamar Alencar Macedo, Virley Gardeny Lima Sena, Carlos Cesar Martin Sousa and Alana Das Chagas Ferreira Aguiar
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Emanoel Gomes De Moura: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Caixa Postal 3004, São Luís 65000-000, Brazil
Stefanny Barros Portela: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Caixa Postal 3004, São Luís 65000-000, Brazil
Vinicius Ribamar Alencar Macedo: 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
Virley Gardeny Lima Sena: Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia, Botucatu, São Paulo 18.610-307, Brazil
Carlos Cesar Martin Sousa: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Caixa Postal 3004, São Luís 65000-000, Brazil
Alana Das Chagas Ferreira Aguiar: Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Biologia, Avenida dos Portugueses, 1966, São Luís 65080-805, Brazil

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Gypsum combined with leguminous residue may extend rootability and improve growth and maize grain yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of gypsum and leguminous residue on soil rootability in the root zone and on maize grain yield in a cohesive tropical soil. We used seven treatments: (i) control; (ii) urea; (iii) leguminous; (iv) 6 t/ha of gypsum with leguminous or (v) with urea or (vi) with both; and (vii) 12 t/ha of gypsum with urea and leguminous. Gypsum was applied in January 2010 and soil samples were analyzed in 2012–2015. Maize was sown in 2011–2013 and 2015, when maize yield was determined. Soil penetration strength and the analysis of plant tissue was performed in 2015. The leaf area index, nitrogen accumulation amount, total N concentration and amount of N remobilization were also determined in 2015. Gypsum with leguminous residue modified the root zone by increasing calcium and organic matter levels and by reducing soil penetration strength. The leaf area index and the remobilization of nitrogen to grains increased, due to greater uptake before and after tasseling. The gypsum and leguminous residue combination is a more suitable strategy to improve agrosystems in cohesive soils of the humid tropics.

Keywords: calcium; penetration strength; nitrogen remobilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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