Soybean Performance as Affected by Lime and Gypsum Incorporation Through Tillage Versus Surface Application in...

Lime and gypsum are widely used to correct soil acidity and improve grain yields in Brazilian agricultural systems. However, limited information is available on their effectiveness and application practices in degraded sandy soils typical of older agricultural frontiers, such as those in Rio de Janeiro State. This study evaluated the effects of surface application versus the incorporation of lime and gypsum into the soil through tillage operations on soil chemical properties, nodulation, and grain yield of soybean cultivars grown in low-fertility Fluvisols. The experiment was conducted during the 2021/2022 growing season in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, using a strip-plot design with four soybean cultivars and two soil amendment placement strategies: surface application without tillage and incorporation through tillage. Soil chemical attributes, nodulation, nutrient uptake, and yield components were assessed. Incorporated application significantly increased soil pH, reduced Al³⁺ toxicity, and enhanced Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, P, and K⁺ availability compared to surface application. Nodulation responses varied among cultivars, with incorporated treatments promoting up to 40% greater nodule biomass. Although primary root length was not affected, incorporation stimulated secondary root development and nutrient uptake, leading to approximately 50% higher pod number and grain yield. Overall, incorporating lime and gypsum through soil tillage was more effective than surface application in improving soil fertility, enhancing nodulation, and increasing soybean productivity under the conditions evaluated in this study. These findings suggest that lime and gypsum incorporation can represent an important management strategy for improving soybean production in degraded sandy soils.