Fertility of lowland soils from South of Minas Gerais State for common bean cultivation

Abstract

Aiming to characterize the nutritional limitations on growth and grain yield of the cv. Carioca-MG common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), an experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with 0-20 cm samples of four lowland soils, Low-Humic Gley (LHG), Bog soil (B), Humic Gley (HG) and Alluvial soil (A), collected at Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Two successive cultivation were conducted in 3 dm³ pots. The experimental design was totally randomized in a 13 x 4 (13 treatments x 4 soils) factorial scheme, with three replications. The treatments were based upon the missing element technique (with omission of liming and each one of the macro and micronutrients). The results showed in the four soils severe deficiency of B, P, and K, which omissions promoted reductions in growth and grain yield to values lower than 50% in relation to the complete treatment (liming + macro and micronutrients). The B deficiency was so severe that it did not allow grain production. The N, S, Ca, and Mg deficiencies although less severe, significantly reduced growth and crop production. Liming showed to be indispensable to common bean cultivation in these soils. The presence of Zn in lime composition reduced its deficiency in the LHG, B, and HG soils. There was not Cu effect upon crop production.