Abstract

Although soybean flowers are produced abundantly, a large number of flowers and young pods abort naturally. Abortion reduction may result in an increased number of pods, thus leading to a growth in grain yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of benzyladenine application on soybean pod abortion and, consequently, to increase the productivity of soybean cultivation. The soil of the experimental area is classified as oxisol. After soil analysis, fertilization and pH correction were performed according to technical recommendations for cultivation. Pioneer 98Y12 RR soybean was sown by mid-November, during the rainy season. Benzyladenine application at the end of flowering, with pods of about 1.5 cm length, provided a significant increase in productivity of the species for all used concentrations, with the treatment of 300 mg L^-1 corresponding to the highest increase, around 11%. The increase in productivity was determined by the higher number of total pods fixed to the plants by reason of abortion reduction in the three canopy positions. Other factors that contributed to the increased productivity were the higher number of seeds per plant, higher weight and seed diameter. Benzyladenine application is a promising practice for getting high productivity in the cultivation of soybean.

Key words: Growth regulator, abortion, grain yield.