Nutrition of soybean with nickel and nitrogen redistribution in senescence process

• Grant number: 14/13729-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: José Laércio Favarin
• Grantee: João Leonardo Corte Baptistella
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is the most required nutrient by soybean due to high protein level in seeds. N demand is supplied especially by biological fixation, but also by N soil absorption. During seed filling period, redistribution process contributes with this demand. Redistribution process provides half of the total N in grains. In this process, N stored in tissues as arginine is degraded and releases urea. The N from urea must be degraded by urease to be assimilated and release CO2 and ammonia. Further, ammonia will be incorporated to the seeds. Nickel (Ni) is the micronutrient responsible for urease activation. There is alteration in N metabolism due to Ni supply. It is expected that Ni supply enhances urease activity, increasing urea catabolism that could accelerate redistribution process. Thus leading to a better seed filling and to N's use efficiency. Therefore, is necessary to have a better understanding of Ni interaction with N metabolism and soybean's senescence process. With this research it is expected to understand if Ni supply to soybean increases N redistribution during seed filling. Also, will be characterized physiological and biochemical responses, besides, if it recommended to apply Ni in the soybean culture.