Growth and development of soybean according to limestone and phosphorus doses

In tropical soils, the correction of soil acidity may help increase the efficiency of phosphate fertilization. In this sense, the aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and development of soybean plants (Glycine max) under different doses of limestone and phosphorus in a dystrophic Yellow Latosol. The study was performed in a greenhouse of the Federal University of Piauí, from October to November, 2014. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design, with three replications and the treatments were arranged in a 4x5 factorial scheme, constituted by the combination of liming (0, 1.5, 6.0 and 12 Mg ha-1) and doses of phosphorus (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg ha1 de P2O5) At 50 days after sowing, the following variables were evaluated: plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, fresh matter and dry matter of plants. The combined application of approximately 6 Mg ha-1 of limestone and 260 kg ha-1 of P2O5 provides the highest growths in soybean plants. The soil pH increases with the limestone dose increase, reaching values in the range of 6 to 6.5 with the application of 12 Mg ha-1 of limestone. The interaction between liming and phosphate fertilization was positive for the soybean growth and development.