SOIL ATTRIBUTES AND WHEAT PERFORMANCE IN A GEOREFERENCED SEED PRODUCTION FIELD

ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to study the linear correlations and spatial distribution between soil attributes and productivity and physiological quality of wheat seeds. Soil samples were collected at georeferenced points in an area of 41 ha with a rectangular grid of 100 × 100 m to determine soil fertility. Grain productivity, number of ears m-2, protein content, and physiological seed quality were assessed. The results were submitted to Pearson's correlation analysis, descriptive statistics, and geostatistics. Phosphorus content presented a high spatial variability, with a coefficient of variation of 97.79%. Protein content, number of ears, and SMP index presented low values of coefficient of variation, indicating their low spatial variability. Physiological seed quality was not correlated with soil attributes. Wheat productivity showed a strong correlation between calcium and soil organic matter contents, as verified by analyzing the spatial distribution maps. The analysis of the spatial distribution maps of soil nutrients is a tool that can contribute to farmers’ decision making in the management of crop fertilization aiming at increasing productivity.