Vinasse improves soil quality and increases the yields of soybean, maize, and pasture

Abstract

ABSTRACT Vinasse can be a suitable alternative to improve soil attributes and increase crop yield. This study evaluated the effect of fresh and concentrated vinasse on soil chemical and biological attributes and on the yields of soybean, maize, and pasture. The design was in randomized blocks with four replications and five treatments: T1 (250 kg ha-1 08:28:16 at sowing + 40 kg ha-1 K2O at topdressing); T2 (250 kg ha-1 08:28:16 at sowing + 2450 L ha-1 of fresh vinasse at topdressing); T3 (250 kg ha-1 08:28:16 at sowing + 190 L ha-1 of concentrated vinasse at topdressing); T4 (4100 and 2450 L ha-1 of fresh vinasse at sowing and topdressing, respectively); T5 (315 and 190 L ha-1 of concentrated vinasse at sowing and topdressing, respectively). These treatments were applied during the soybean growth in 2017 and 2018. After soybean harvesting and before maize and pasture in 2018, soil chemical and biological attributes were assessed. Vinasse increased the concentrations of carbon and phosphorus, while decreasing those of potassium and sulfur. Vinasse reduced the carbon concentration of the microbial biomass by 50%, but increased the nitrogen concentration of the microbial biomass by 67%. The activity of dehydrogenase was higher with the application of fresh vinasse. Application of vinasse for two years improves soil chemical and biological attributes and increases the yields of soybean, maize, and pasture.