PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL SUBJECTED TO SILICATE AND LIMESTONE APPLICATIONS, WITH YIELD RESPONSES IN CORN AND WHEAT GROWN RED LATOSOL (OXISOL)

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether treatments with calcium and magnesium silicate and dolomitic limestone improved soil physical properties, increased chlorophyll and carotenoid levels, and enhanced crop productivity. The study was conducted in an experimental area in the municipality of Céu Azul, PR, Brazil, using soybean, wheat, and a corn hybrid cultivars. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 3 treatments and 9 replications, totaling 27 experimental units. Application rates of 0, 300, and 800 kg ha⁻¹ were established for the control, silicate, and limestone treatments, respectively. Physical soil samples were collected to determine particle density, bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity, and total porosity. Soil penetration resistance was also evaluated using an impact penetrometer. Additionally, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were quantified for the soybean cultivar and corn hybrid, and crop yield indices were measured for the wheat and corn crops. The means were analyzed using Tukey’s test at a 5% significance level. The treatments did not improve bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity, or total porosity. The degree of soil compaction was higher in the silicate treatment. The variables carotenoids, chlorophyll ‘a’, chlorophyll ‘b’, and total chlorophyll did not differ among treatments. The productivity of wheat and corn crops did not differ statistically between treatments.