Physiological quality of soybean seeds with application of biostimulant

Abstract

Several studies have proved the efficiency of the application of biostimulant to increase soybean yield. However, little is known about the influence of these products on the seeds quality coming from cultivation with its application. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of soybean seeds cultivated with the periods and doses of biostimulant application. The study was performed in two phases. The first phase was carried out in field condition, at the Experimental Station of MT Foundation during the 2012/13 crop. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications and nine treatments arranged in an incomplete factorial scheme 2x4+1, i.e. two periods of foliar application (V5 and R2) and four doses of biostimulant (250, 500, 750 and 1000 mL ha-1) and one control treatment (without application of product). The second phase of the study was performed in the Seed Analysis Laboratory. In the cold test, the treatments with application of biostimulant in V5 with 750 mL ha-1 and in the R2 with 250, 500 and 1,000 mL ha-1 presented higher percentage of normal seedlings than the control. The fresh biomass and accelerated aging also presented positive results. However, most of tests did not affect seed physiological quality. It was concluded that the foliar application of biostimulant with doses of 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 mL ha-1 in V5 and R2 on soybean plants does not influence the quality of the seeds produced.