DESEMPENHO MORFOLÓGICO E PRODUTIVO DA SOJA SUBMETIDA A DIFERENTES MANEJOS COM ESTRUTURADORES VEGETAIS

Abstract

Soybean yield is a complex trait, influenced by morphological, physiological, and management variables, requiring integrated approaches to understand its determination. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and productive performance of soybean subjected to different management strategies using plant growth structuring agents, identifying yield-determining traits and the treatment closest to the ideal ideotype. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, using a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. Treatments consisted of applications of Vigora, Arquiteto, Impulse + Vital, and KS + Vital at different phenological stages, in addition to an untreated control. Structural and reproductive traits were evaluated, and the data were subjected to MANOVA, Pearson correlation, path analysis, and the MGIDI index. MANOVA indicated significant multivariate differences among treatments. Stem diameter and thousand-grain weight were the main determinants of yield. Path analysis highlighted stem diameter as the variable with the greatest direct effect, while MGIDI identified the RVCb treatment (Vigora at V4) as the closest to the ideal ideotype. It is concluded that plant growth structuring agents can improve soybean architecture and productive performance, especially when applied at the appropriate growth stage.