An experiment was carried out on analic Dark Red Latosol in Mococa, SP, Brazil, during three years, to study the effects of the application of dolomitic limestone (0, 3.5 and 7 t ha-1) and of potassium (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 kg ha-1 of K2O in the form of KCl ) broadcasted. Two soybean cultivars, IAC-17 and FT-2, of 110 day cycle were utilized, the latter being more demanding for potassium. The results of three crops showed that in the absence of liming there is no response to potassium. Maximum yields were obtained at the rate of 383 and 441 kg ha-1 of K2O, respectively in the presence of 3.5 and 7.0t ha-1 of dolomitic limestone, where the soil ratio (Ca + Mg)/K were in average between 14 and 23. The cv. FT-2 had always a higher yield than IAC-17, except when no potassium was applied. Cultivars FT-2 and IAC-17 produced maximum grain yields of 2384 and 1786 kg ha-1 with the application of 450 and 370 kg ha-1 of K2O, respectively. At the 370 kg ha-1, FT-2 produced a yield of 2354 kg ha-1 of soybean grains, showing that it is more efficient in utilizing the potassium fertilizer in comparison to cultivar IAC-17.
Glycine max; yield; cultivars; cation relationship