Plant population is one of the main management practices influencing soybean development and grain yield, particularly in modern cultivars with high phenotypic plasticity. This study evaluated the effects of different plant populations on yield components and grain yield of the soybean cultivar Brasmax Zeus IPRO under subtropical growing conditions. The experiment was conducted during the 2020/21 growing season in Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil, using a randomized complete block design with five plant populations (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 plants m⁻¹) and four replications. Plant height, first pod insertion height, number of reproductive nodes, branches, pods, grains per plant, thousand-grain weight, and grain yield were evaluated. Plant height and thousand-grain weight were not significantly affected by plant population. Conversely, first pod insertion height increased linearly as plant density increased. Reduced plant populations promoted greater branching and significantly increased the number of reproductive nodes, pods, and grains per plant, demonstrating the strong compensatory growth capacity of soybean under low-density conditions. However, these morphological adjustments were insufficient to compensate for the lower number of plants per unit area. Consequently, grain yield increased linearly with plant population, with the highest yield (5,878.3 kg ha⁻¹) obtained at 12 plants m⁻¹, representing an increase of approximately 38% compared with the lowest population. The results demonstrate that although the soybean cultivar Brasmax Zeus IPRO exhibits considerable phenotypic plasticity, maintaining an adequate plant population is essential to maximize grain yield. Under the environmental conditions of this study, a population of 12 plants m⁻¹ (266,666 plants ha⁻¹) was the most suitable for achieving maximum productivity.
Jefferson Eduardo Dall Alba, P. F. Adami, C. N. Salvadori et al.· Brazilian Journal of Animal...· 0 citations
Water deficit is one of the main factors limiting soybean productivity, impairing plant growth and reducing crop yield potential. In this context, the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses and improve crop development. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of soybean seed inoculation with Bacillus aryabhattai on seed physiological performance during germination and plant growth under water-deficit conditions. Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, a completely randomized design was adopted in a factorial arrangement, evaluating seed inoculation (with or without aryabhattai) and water availability (with or without water deficit). Shoot and root length, as well as shoot and root fresh and dry biomass, were determined. In the second experiment, the seed physiological performance during germination of inoculated and non-inoculated seeds was evaluated by assessing seedling biomass accumulation. Seed inoculation significantly promoted shoot and root growth under both well-watered and water-deficit conditions. Inoculated plants subjected to water restriction exhibited greater length and biomass accumulation than non-inoculated plants, demonstrating enhanced tolerance to drought stress. In addition, inoculation increased shoot biomass accumulation during the seedling stage, indicating greater early vigor. Overall, the results demonstrate that Bacillus aryabhattai has considerable potential as a soybean seed inoculant, promoting plant growth and contributing to improved crop resilience under water-deficit conditions.
Jean Roberto Ruaro, Sérgio Miguel Mazaro, Maira Cristina Schuster Russiano et al.· REMUNOM· 0 citations
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