FOLIAR APPLICATION OF SUGARCANE MOLASSES CAN ALLEVIATE STRESSFUL CONDITION IN GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERR. CROP UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of sugarcane molasses application at 2 days (D2) and 7 days (D7) after precipitation after a period of drought stress on some physiological, growth, and yield parameters of soybean under field conditions. The experiment was set to obtain 14 plants per meter of row, and considered two treatments: molasses application at 2 days (D2) and 7 days (D7) after precipitation, after ca. 1 month without rainfall. Twenty days after the second application, thermographic and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements were taken at the reproductive stage (R5 - early seed filling). Measurements were conducted between 12:00 and 14:00, representing the hottest hours of the day, on fully expanded leaves. Additionally, plant growth and yield measurements were taken from the same plants at the reproductive stage R7. The plot treated with sugarcane molasses application at D2 showed increased productivity (ca. 58%) due to higher stomatal conductance as reflected by water stress and relative stomatal conductance thermal index conditions.