Tolerance of soybean and wheat varieties in sub-soil high in exchangeable aluminum

Abstract

A pot experiment was installed in a greenhouse using an acid sub-soil, classified as a Red Yellow Latosol, shallow phase, high hi aluminum and very low in phosphorus availabilities. The soil acidity was neutralized using calcium hidroxide to reduce the original aluminum saturation of 67 to 45, 30 and 15%. The quantity of subsoil used per pot was 6 kg and 60 kg/ha of P2O5 were applied hi the form of superphosphate. The varieties of soybeans utilized were Biloxi, Davis and Santa Rosa. The results showed that whichever parameter measured (height of the plant, number of nodes, lenght of internodes, number of trifoliate leaves, dry matter weights of shoots and roots) there were no significant differences within each variety for the concentration of aluminum saturation, showing that the three varieties were tolerant to Al. These results were confirmed with two wheat varieties BH-1146 (tolerant to Al) and Siete Cerros (susceptible) which were sown in the same pots. The variety BH-1146 did no show root lenght differences for the Al saturation treaments confirming its tolerance. On the other hand the cultivar Siete Cerros showed increase hi root lenght as the Al saturation was reduced, showing its suscebility.