Mineral fertilizer with cobalt and molybdenum in soybean

Abstract

High soybean yields require large amounts of nitrogen, which can be obtained mainly from symbiotic fixation. However, the possibility of the efficiency of this biological process cam be impaired by micronutrient deficiencies, especially of cobalt and molybdenum. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency and application form of mineral fertilizer with cobalt and molybdenum in soybean. To do so, the cultivar CD-206 was subjected to different treatments which consisted of the combination of Co and Mo application as seed treatment and as leaf application. The agronomic characteristics evaluated were nodule number, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, number of pods, number of grains, thousand grain weight and grain production. The application of molybdenum and cobalt via seeds and/or leaf application in V4 stage (third trifoliolate leaf fully developed, fourth node) promoted significant increases in crop yield. Positive responses of molybdenum and cobalt were also observed in the number of nodes, pods and grains, with increases of up to 240 kg ha-1 in crop yield. The agronomic parameters were positively affected by the application of Co and Mo, especially as applied either via seed and leaf (TS + V4), including the grain yield. The application form was not significantly different, both the application via foliar and seed were effective in delivering these nutrients to the crop.