Calcium deficiency and aluminum toxicity are considered to be the most important acidity factors limiting root growth. A field experiment was carried out on a dystrophic Red Latosol (Haplortox) in Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil, to study the effects of surface application of lime and gypsum on root growth and nutrient uptake by soybean, cv. EMBRAPA 58, under no-tillage system. A randomized complete block design was used, with three replications, in a split-plot experiment. Dolomitic limestone was applied at rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t ha-1 (main plots) in July 1993; gypsum was applied at rates of 0, 4, 8 and 12 t ha-1 (subplots) in November 1993. The growth of soybean roots was not affected by acidity conditions in soil with 15, 12 and 8 mmol c dm-3 of exchangeable Ca and 28, 32 and 40% of Al saturation, respectively, in the 0-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm layers. Liming improved soybean nutrition and gypsum increased Ca and S uptake. Only lime application increased soybean yield, due to the larger availability and uptake of Mg and reduction of Zn and Mn contents in the leaves.
Glycine max (L.) Merrill; acidity; subsoil; mineral nutrition; root system