Soybean seed chemical treatment associated with inoculants: physiological and agronomical analyses

The germination and growth of soybean submitted to commercial inoculant CTS 200® and agrochemicals under different periods of storage were evaluated, among different environments (laboratory, greenhouse and field). Treatments were defined as: T1 = control; T2 = inoculant Masterfix® (3 mL kg−1 seeds); T3 = CTS200® combined with fungicide, insecticide, coating polymer, and drying powder at one day before the sowing (DBS); T4 = CTS200® combined with peat at 1 DBS; T5 = CTS200® combined with peat, fungicide, insecticide, coating polymer, and drying powder at 0 DBS; T6 = T5, but at 15 DBS; T7 = T5, but at 38 DBS; and T8 = T5, but at 50 DBS. The following variables were evaluated: germination percentage; germination speed index; length of primary root; fresh matter of seedlings; α-amylase and phosphatase activity; area, volume, and dry matter of roots; nodules number; plant height; gas exchange variables; and productivity. We observed that the performance of industrial treatment with the longevity inoculant is directly influenced by the presence of agrochemicals used in the treatment, and extended storage time was detrimental to the physiology of germination. Significant changes were observed between the treatments analyzed under distinct environmental conditions and period of analysis, in common, we noticed that for all these different conditions and periods, the treatments with CTS200® led to qualitative gains in the development of the soybean crop in the short and medium term.