Seed treatment, soil fertilization or leaf spray? Nickel application methods effects on efficiency of N2 biological fixation in soybean

• Grant number: 19/19471-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date until: June 01, 2020
• End date until: September 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: José Lavres Junior
• Grantee: Bruna Wurr Rodak
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biological N2 Fixation (BNF) is a plant-rhizobia symbiosis fundamental for sustainable agricultural in tropical soils, usually with low Nitrogen (N) availability to plants. Leguminous plants, as soybean, are the most successful case of this symbiosis. Nowadays, one of the main challenges in soybean crop systems is to improve the efficiency of the BNF, by nutritional management for plants. In its turn, it has been observed that the availability of Nickel (Ni) in some soils may be insufficient to meet plant requirements, whose N assimilation occurs via ureides. In this case, Ni fertilization emerging may play a key role, for this micronutrient is a structural component of urease and NiFe-hydrogenase enzymes that are directly involved in N metabolism in plants. However, research on Ni application methods, aiming to increase the efficiency of BNF are still incipient. The research project proposes, therefore, an exploratory study on the theme, applying modern analytical techniques in the evaluation of the BNF process. Under controlled and field conditions, isolated and/or combined application of Ni via seed treatment, soil and leaf will be tested in soybean plants grown. For the development of the research project, the infrastructure at 'Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture' and 'São Paulo State University' will be used. With our results we hope to better understand the use of this micronutrient by plants, and then, propose a more effective Ni supply method to optimize BNF efficiency in soybean cultivation. The project is aligned with the '2030 Agenda' of the 'United Nations' to promote the 'Sustainable Development Goals'. (AU)