Yield of common bean in no-tillage system with application of lime and zinc

Abstract

Soil acidity is one of the most limiting factors to yield in crop production in cerrado soils and micronutrientes deficiency is associated to increase in pH of cerrado soil with liming. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of liming and Zn application to a distrofic Dark-Red Latosol (Typic Haplorthox) on bean yield. A field experiment was conducted during three consecutive years. Lime rates used were 0, 12, and 24 Mg ha^-1, and Zn rates were 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 kg ha^-1. Bean yield was significantly increased with the application of lime, however, Zn treatment did not present the same performance. There was a significant change in soil chemical properties at 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths with the application of lime. Values for maximum grain yield were pH 6.6; Ca, 4.0 cmol_c kg^-1; Mg, 1.2 cmol_c kg^-1; H+Al, 2.4 cmol_c kg^-1; acidity saturation, 33.9%; CEC, 7.9 cmol_c kg^-1; base saturation, 69.3%, Ca saturation, 46.8%; Mg saturation, 15.3%; K saturation, 4.2%; Ca/Mg ratio 4.6; Ca/K ratio 19.1 and Mg/K ratio 6.7 across two soil depths.