Production of Caupi Beans and Chemical Attributes of a Latosol Under Soil Correction Levels

The cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] represents an important source of income and employment in the northeastern region of Para, also being a valuable source of protein in the diet, especially for the rural population. However, the productivity is low, mainly due to the low fertility of the soils used in the region for the cultivation of this plant. In this context, the correction of the factors responsible for the soil limitations that lead to nutrient deficiency, by means of lime, is of great practical importance for obtaining greater yields of crops grown in acidic soils. The objective was to evaluate the effects of five doses of lime in the production of cowpea beans, BR3-Tracuateua and BR2-Bragança cultivars and chemical attributes of a dystrophic oxisoil, at Tracuateua city. The study was a randomized block designed experimental in a factorial (5 × 2) with four replications. The terms of the factorial refer to five doses of limestone and two cowpea cultivars. Liming increased pH and concentrations of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, reducing the Al concentration and saturation. Lime dosages did not provide significant increases in grain production. The cultivar BR3-Tracuateua was more efficient in all liming levels, producing more than 30% of grain than the BR-2 Bragança.