Physiological Quality of Soybean Seeds as a Function of Soil Management Systems and Pre-Harvest Desiccation

Abstract

Soil management systems directly interfere in the soil–plant relationship. However, there are still few studies evaluating the influence of long-term management systems on the physiological quality of soybean seeds. Another little-known topic is the influence of pre-harvest desiccation on the physiological quality of soybean seeds, especially on seed longevity. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the physiological quality of soybean seeds cultivated under conventional tillage and no-tillage systems with and without desiccant use. The experiment was carried out in design is a split plot in a randomized complete block design. The treatments consisted of soil management systems (conventional tillage and no-tillage), with and without pre-harvest desiccation. In the treatment with desiccation, the herbicide Paraquat was applied, when the plants were at the R7.3 phenological stage (most of the seeds had a yellowish coat, with a shiny surface and were already detached from the pod). Seed germination, vigor (first germination count, seedling dry mass, seedling length, time to reach 50% germination (T50), seedling emergence and emergence speed index) and longevity (P50) were evaluated. Seeds cultivated under conventional tillage showed greater vigor for most traits evaluated, with values of T50 and seedling length higher by 24.39% and 24.77%, respectively, compared to NT. In addition, non-desiccation increased the seedling length and dry mass, in 15.45% and 21.59%, respectively. The use of desiccant aiming at seed vigor is dependent on the soil management system. Soybean seed longevity was superior in the no-tillage system, but desiccant application reduced seed longevity.