Influence of Base Saturation on Growth and Yield Parameters of Alfalfa Cultivated in Soil of Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

Alfalfa, considered one of the most important forage worldwide, requires a base saturation in the soil of approximately 80%, and this is a factor that can limit the expansion of cultivation of this crop in tropical soils that are predominantly acidic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of base saturation levels on the development of alfalfa in soil of the Brazilian Cerrado. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse, whose experimental units consisted of plastic pots with a capacity of 2 dm3. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with six treatments and five repetitions. The treatments consisted of six levels of base saturation (10, 30, 50, 70, 90 and 110%). The cultivar used was Medicago sativa L. cv. Creole. The evaluated variables were chlorophyll index, number of leaves, number of tillers, stem diameter, plant height, dry shoot mass, root dry mass and root volume. Increases in leaf number, stem diameter, shoot height, dry mass and root volume of alfalfa were observed due to the increase of base saturation in the soil. The base saturation from 80% was the one that provides better development and greater alfalfa production in Cerrado.