Effect of phosphate fertilization in production of soybean seeds

Phosphorus can contribute to increase seed quality and grain yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phosphorus fertilization on quality, chemical composition and yield of soybean seeds and yield of crops established from these seeds. Assay 1 evaluated the following treatments: T1 - control, sowing without P2O5; T2: 50% less than the recommended P2O5 rate based on the soil analysis; T3: 100% of the recommended P2O5 rate; T4: 50% more than the recommended P2O5 rate; and T5: 100% more than the recommended P2O5 rate. After harvest, the number of seeds and pods per plant, yield, germination, viability and vigor by tetrazolium test, chemical composition and thousand-seed weight were determined. Assay 2 was conducted with the seeds harvested in Assay 1 to evaluate the number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and yield. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks with five replicates. The phosphorus fertilization provided greater vigor in soybean seeds, besides contributing to increased phosphorus, iron and zinc in seeds produced. Seeds with higher phosphorus concentration contribute to the increase in soybean yield.