EMPREGO DE FERTILIZANTE MISTO A BASE DE EXTRATO DE ALGA Ascophyllum nodosum, NO TRATAMENTO DE SEMENTES DE SOJA (Glycine max L.) EM AMBIENTE PROTEGIDO

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mixed fertilizer based on Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract in seed treatment on soybean crop yield, highlighting its potential as an agricultural biostimulant. This extract is rich in phytohormones and compounds that promote increased plant metabolism, root growth, nutrient and water absorption, and stress tolerance. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment at the Federal Institute of Goiás - Rio Verde Campus, GO, and the design used was randomized blocks with four seed treatments: T1 - 0 mL kg-1; T2 - 1.5 mL kg-1; T3 - 3.0 mL kg-1; T4 – 6.0 mL kg-1, with 10 replicates each, in 10 L pots containing a mixture of 50% latosol and 50% organic compost. Base fertilization was performed, and harvesting occurred 75 days after planting. The parameters analyzed included vegetative and reproductive characteristics. The results indicated that the fertilizer did not influence the vegetative variables (plant height, number of branches, stem diameter, and total dry matter mass). However, there was an improvement in reproductive yield components with the recommended dose (3 mL/kg), which led to an increase in the number of pods per plant and grains per pod, compared to the control. It is concluded that the mixed fertilizer based on Ascophyllum nodosum extract has the potential to improve the productive performance of soybean crops, especially in reproductive aspects, with the dose of 3 mL/kg being the most effective. The research highlights the use of biostimulants as a promising strategy in sustainable agriculture.