Efeito da calagem nas propriedades químicas do solo, nutrição mineral e desenvolvimento de cultivares de tomate cereja

Abstract

The acidity of tropical soils is one of the main limiting factors for agricultural productivity, especially in pH-sensitive crops such as cherry tomatoes. Liming is an essential practice to neutralize toxic aluminum, increase base saturation, and improve nutrient availability. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different lime doses on soil chemical properties, mineral nutrition, development, and production of cherry tomato cultivars. The study was conducted in a typical dystrophic Yellow Latosol, medium texture, using six lime doses (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 t ha⁻¹) in the presence and absence of mineral fertilization. The evaluations included soil chemical attributes, foliar macro- and micronutrient contents, photosynthetic pigments, morphological characteristics, biomass, and yield components. As increasing doses of limestone increased the pH in water and CaCl2 reduced H+Al and Al³⁺, increased Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, and B, and reduced the availability of P, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn in the soil. Physiological and morphological responses varied among cultivars, reflecting genotypic differences in tolerance to acidity and Ca supply. A limestone dose of 2 to 4 t ha⁻¹ provided more balanced nutrient absorption, enabling greater growth, production, and fruit quality. The Yubi cultivar proved to be more sensitive to acidity and environmental factors than the Cereja cultivar, which demonstrated superior growth and production.