Influence of organic polymers on nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant system under soybean cultivation (Glycine max L.)

Abstract

Water is an essential natural resource and its uncritical use leads to the reduction of its supply through pollution and environmental degradation. Human activity is the main cause for that. The fertilizer's application to agricultural crops has grown over the years due to the productivity increase. Fertilizer efficiency is directly related to nutrient availability in soil solution for absorption and assimilation by plants. Soybean is a crop of great economic importance to Brazil, being the main crop of Brazilian agribusiness. Brazil is the second-largest producer in the world and it has the greatest potential for expansion in the cultivated area among the major producers (USA, Brazil, and Argentina). Depending on market consumption needs, Brazil can double its production. Thus, demand for new technologies such as absorbent polymers are increasing because they lead to further exploit the productive potential of crops without increasing agricultural boundaries. Overall, this research aims to evaluate the dynamics of macro and micro-nutrients in the soil-plant system (soybean), in the presence of the organic polymer UPDT (United Phosphorus Drought Technology). For this purpose, soil, soil solution, and leaf content samples will be collected and chemical analyzes will be performed, allowing to determine the concentration of the following nutrients: Potassium, Boron, Calcium, Copper, Sulfur, Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Sodium, Potassium, and Zinc. Through the statistical analysis, it will be sought to evaluate the influence of UPDT on the dynamics and/or retention of these elements in the Soil-Plant system, evaluating whether the application of this technology will become efficient in the economics of water application and in the availability of water. nutrients over time to the plant, as well as avoiding leaching effects that could cause environmental contamination of soil and groundwater.