The residual effect of liming and potassium fertilization on the occurrence of fungi in soybean seeds

Abstract

To study the residual effect of liming and potassium fertilizer on the occurrence of fungi in soybean seeds, an experiment was installed during the 1991/92 growing season, using 0, 3.5 and 7.0 t/ha of dolomitic lime and 0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 kg/ha of K2O in the form of potassium cloride. In 1993/94 (the third year), the harvested seeds were submitted to a seed health test (blotter method). The results showed that liming reduced significantly the incidence of Phomopsis sp. and increased the presence of Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp.. Although no significant differences were observed with liming, there was a reduction in the incidence of Cercospora kikuchii, Colletotrichum dematium var. truncala and Peronospora manshurica. Among the fungi found in the seeds, only Phomopsis sp. was significantly reduced by potassium fertilization, the least incidence being observed at the rate of 450 kg/ha.