African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6915

Article in Press

Soil quality role for enhance soybean resilience under hydric stress season

Mateus Junior Rodrigues Sangiovo

  •  Received: 18 October 2024
  •  Accepted: 09 January 2025
This study investigates how soil organic matter and the physical and microbiological attributes affect soybean yield in two distinct crop environments (high and low productivity) in southern Brazil, in a crop season with the occurence of a severe hydric restriction. Soil samples stratified by depth were collected to evaluate the chemical (organic matter), physical (root penetration resistance and growth), and microbiological (enzymatic activity) attributes. Soil organic matter was higher in the high productivity environment, both in shallow and depth in the soil profile. The resistance to soil penetration was higher in the low productivity environment after 0.15 m, with values higher than 2.5 MPa (critical value). For root growth (volume, surface area, and dry mass), these values were higher in high productivity environment at depths 0-0.10 m and 0.20-0.30 m. The activity of beta-glucosidase and arylsulfatase enzymes was also higher in the high productivity environment. The average difference in soybean grain yield was 39% between the environments, at 2188 kg ha-1 (high yield) and 1563 kg ha-1 (low yield). In this sense, our findings reinforce that surface and deep organic matter stocks will be the best alternative to reduce soybean yield losses in years with severe water restriction.

Keywords: Water restriction, production environments, organic matter, compaction, root growth and enzymatic activity.