Molybdenum application associated with nitrogen fertilization on yield and physiological potential of wheat seeds

Abstract

Molybdenum (Mo) is a micronutrient that plays a fundamental role in the assimilation of nitrogen (N) in plants, and top-dressing N fertilization associated with different forms of molybdenum application can increase the yield and physiological potential of wheat seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and physiological potential of wheat seeds treated with different forms of Mo application associated with N fertilization. The experiment was performed using the wheat cultivar CD150 in randomized blocks in split plots, with four replicates. Plots were evaluated for four forms of Mo application: 0 g ha-1 of Mo, seed treatment with 40 g ha-1 of Mo, foliar treatment with 40 g ha-1 of Mo, and seed + foliar treatment each at 20 g ha-1. In the subplots, four N rates (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha-1 N) were applied at the start of the tillering phase. We evaluated the following parameters: seed yield, mass of one thousand seeds, germination, first germination count, seedling root and shoot length, electrical conductivity, seedling emergence in sand, emergence speed index, and crude and soluble protein contents. The yield of wheat seeds increased with increasing rates of N in the top-dressing. Nitrogen fertilization associated with different forms of Mo application did not interfere with the crude and soluble protein contents or with any of the parameters related to the physiological potential of wheat seeds.