Calcium and Boron Fertilization Improves Soybean Photosynthetic Efficiency and Grain Yield

Foliar fertilization with calcium (Ca) and boron (B) at flowering can promote flower retention and pod fixation, thereby increasing the number of pods per plant and, in turn, crop productivity. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of Ca + B fertilization during flowering on the nutritional, metabolic and yield performance of soybean (Glycine max L.) The treatments consisted of the presence and the absence of Ca + B fertilization in two growing seasons. Crop nutritional status, gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic enzyme activity (Rubisco), total soluble sugar content, total leaf protein concentration, agronomic parameters, and grain yield were evaluated. Foliar Ca + B fertilization increased water use efficiency and carboxylation efficiency, and the improvement in photosynthesis led to higher leaf sugar and protein concentrations. The improvement in metabolic activity promoted a greater number of pods and grains plant^-1, culminating in higher yields. These results indicate that foliar fertilization with Ca + B can efficiently improve carbon metabolism, resulting in better yields in soybean.

Molybdenum Foliar Fertilization Improves Photosynthetic Metabolism and Grain Yields of Field-Grown Soybean and Maize

Foliar fertilization has been used as a supplemental strategy to plant nutrition especially in crops with high yield potential. Applying nutrients in small doses stimulates photosynthesis and increases yield performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of foliar application of molybdenum (Mo) to soybean and maize. The treatments consisted of the presence (+Mo) and absence (-Mo) of supplementation. Plant nutritional status, nitrate reductase (NR) activity, gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic enzyme activity (Rubisco in soybean and maize and PEPcase in maize), total soluble sugar concentration, leaf protein content, shoot dry matter, shoot nitrogen accumulated, number of grains per plant, mass of 100 grains, and grain yield were evaluated. For soybean and maize, application of Mo increased leaf NR activity, nitrogen and protein content, Rubisco activity, net photosynthesis, and grain yield. These results indicate that foliar fertilization with Mo can efficiently enhance nitrogen metabolism and the plant’s response to carbon fixation, resulting in improved crop yields.