Abstract
Since soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.)) yields greater than 6719 kg ha−1 have only recently and infrequently been achieved, little is known about the soil microbiological environment related to high-yield soybean production. Soil microbiological properties are often overlooked when assessing agronomic practices for optimal production. Therefore, a greater understanding is needed regarding how soil biological properties may differ between high- and average-yielding areas within fields. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the effects of region on soil microbial carbon substrate utilization differences between high- (HY) and average-yield (AY) areas and (ii) assess the effect of yield area on selected microbiological property differences. Replicate soil samples were collected from the 0–10 cm depth from yield-contest-entered fields in close proximity that had both a HY and an AY area. Samples were collected immediately prior to or just after soybean harvest in 2014 and 2015 from each of seven geographic regions within Arkansas. Averaged across yield area, community-level carbon substrate utilization and Shannon’s and Simpson’s functional diversity and evenness were greater (p < 0.05) in Region 7 than all other regions. Averaged across regions, Shannon’s functional diversity and evenness were greater (p < 0.05) in HY than in AY areas. Principal component analysis demonstrated that a greater variety of carbon substrates were used in HY than AY areas. These results may help producers understand the soil microbiological environment in their own fields that contribute to or hinder achieving high-yielding soybeans; however, additional parameters may need to be assessed for a more comprehensive understanding of the soil environment that is associated with high-yielding soybean.
Highlights
Microorganisms exist in most environments, and since microbes occupy the base of the food chain, microbes are the first organisms to react to changes in the environment [1]
The mean yield for all AY areas was 4701 kg ha−1, which was 1409 kg ha−1 greater than the Arkansas state average from 2015 and 804 kg ha−1 greater than the Nebraska state average in 2015, in which Nebraska was the most productive soybean state in the United States in 2015 [29]
Averaged across the 2014 and 2015 soybean growing seasons, based on EcoPlatesTM substrate utilization, soil microbiological properties differed between HY and AY areas and across soybean growing regions in Arkansas
Summary
Microorganisms exist in most environments, and since microbes occupy the base of the food chain, microbes are the first organisms to react to changes in the environment [1]. Microbes contribute to soil nutrient levels, plant processes and functions, and overall crop health and productivity [2,3]. Soil microbial communities are affected by inherent soil properties and current conditions, crop management approaches, and aboveground vegetation presence and type [2,3]. Microorganisms are often a precursor to changes in the health of an environment as a whole [4], the soil environment. Chemoheterotrophic bacteria utilize specific organic sources of carbon (C) and energy for growth, and the ability of species to use diverse substrates can be used to identify and characterize cultures and communities [6].
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