Lime and boron for alfafa

• Grant number: 10/16055-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2010
• End date: September 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Mara Cristina Pessôa da Cruz
• Grantee: Cássia Rita Adame
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Alfalfa develops well in soils with high pH, close to neutral, a condition that favors the occurrence of boron deficiency. In plants, boron correlates closely with the concentration of cell wall pectins, which can interfere in the plant digestibility. Thus, we intend to evaluate the response of alfalfa to boron fertilization according to soil pH, and the relationship between boron concentration and pectin in the shoots. The experiment will be conducted in a greenhouse using soil with low boron content, collected in the 0 to 20 cm. The treatments will be made by the factorial combination of three levels of lime and five doses of boron. It will be used the randomized experimental design with four replications. Liming will be made to reach V % values equivalent to 65, 80 and 95%, and boron levels will be 0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mg dm-3. It will be evaluated two growth cycles, the first with 45 days and the second with 30 days. Cutting of plants at the end of each period will be made 7.5 cm above the soil and the samples collected will be immediately weighed, a subsample will be frozen for determination of pectin and other subsample will be dry to obtain dry matter yield and determination of macronutrient and boron concentration. Data will be subjected to analysis of variance (F test) and if there is effect at boron doses, it will be studied by regression analysis. (AU)