Abstract
Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) is one of the most important crops worldwide. In several European countries such as Germany, soybean cultivation is not traditional and as such remains to be optimized. One option to increase soybean production is to adapt and improve the seeding system. To investigate the effects of different seeding systems on seed yield, seed protein, and oil content, plant characteristics were assessed using a two-factorial (two seeding systems and four cultivars) field trial over two years (2017–2018) at two locations in southeast Germany. The seeding systems were drill (row spacing 14 cm) and precision seeding (row spacing 28 cm), and the cultivars were Viola 000, Lissabon 000, ES Mentor 00, and Orion 00. Depending on the seeding system, a seed yield of 3.8 t ha−1 dry matter (DM), 40.9% protein content (DM), and 18.8% oil content (DM) was achieved by drilling, and 3.6 t ha−1 yield (DM), 40.1% protein content (DM), and 19.1% oil content (DM) with precision seeding (average across four cultivars, two locations, and two years). No significant effects of the seeding system on all seed and plant characteristics were observed. As drilling and precision seeding did not affect the seed yield, seed protein, oil contents, and plant characteristics of soybean in this study, farmers are able to choose the seeding system which fits best into their farms and is economically most viable.
Highlights
thousand kernel mass (TKM), height of the first pod, lodging, plant height, and sum of nodules were significantly affected by cultivar
One trait–seed yield was significantly affected by the interaction of seeding system and cultivar
A study from Argentina [18], found that precision seeding of soybean was superior to drill seeding in terms of how carefully the grains were handled during sowing, leading to uniform field emergence and to higher seed yield
Summary
Merrill) is considered a globally strategic crop because it has become the main supplier of plant oil and protein [1]. Soybean grains contain 30–45% high quality protein with essential amino acids and 15–22% oil with a favorable proportion of linoleic to linolenic acid of 6–7 [2]. The global area cultivated with soybeans in 2017 was 123.6 million ha, providing 352.6 million t of grain at an average yield of 2.8 t ha−1 [3]. The German soybean area was 19,000 ha in 2017, with an average yield of 3.2 t ha−1 DM and total production of 61,000 t. Successful plant breeding in recent years has supported the increase in soybean production [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
