Agronomic Performance Of Soybean Research Articles

Dolomitic lime and silicate in no‐till: Nutritional status, soil fertility, and soybean agronomic performance

AbstractLimestone is the most widely used agricultural input for soil acidity correction and calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) fertilization. However, other materials have the potential to fulfill these purposes, such as steel slags, also known as silicates. Silicates have higher solubility than limestone, serving as agents for increase pH in no‐till, in addition to being a source of Ca, Mg, and silicon (Si). This study aimed to compare the effects of surface application of dolomitic lime and calcium magnesium silicate on soil chemical properties, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] nutritional status, and grain yield under no‐till. The experiment was installed in the northwest Paraná State, Brazil, on a Rhodic Eutrustox. Lime and silicate rates were applied by broadcasting before the sowing of soybean. Silicate treatment increases soil Ca2+, pH, and base saturation up to a depth of 0.10 m. By contrast, liming effects on soil chemistry were restricted to the 0.05 m top layer after 24 months of application. The acidity correction and Ca2+ supply to greater soil depths and the increased leaf Si as a beneficial element provided by silicate treatment contributed to increasing soybean yield in the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons. Lime application, regardless of the rate, did not improve soybean yield. Waste from the steel industry can be used as acidity correctives and source of Si, Ca, and Mg, improving the agronomic performance of soybean.

Natural variants of molybdate transporters contribute to yield traits of soybean by affecting auxin synthesis

Soybean (Glycine max) is a crop with high demand for molybdenum (Mo) and typically requires Mo fertilization to achieve maximum yield potential. However, the genetic basis underlying the natural variation of Mo concentration in soybean and its impact on soybean agronomic performance is still poorly understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify GmMOT1.1 and GmMOT1.2 that drive the natural variation of soybean Mo concentration and confer agronomic traits by affecting auxin synthesis. The soybean population exhibits five haplotypes of the two genes, with the haplotype 5 demonstrating the highest expression of GmMOT1.1 and GmMOT1.2, as well as the highest transport activities of their proteins. Further studies showed that GmMOT1.1 and GmMOT1.2 improve soybean yield, especially when cultivated in acidic or slightly acidic soil. Surprisingly, these two genes contribute to soybean growth by enhancing the activity of indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld) aldehyde oxidase (AO), leading to increased indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis, rather than being involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation or nitrogen assimilation. Furthermore, the geographical distribution of five haplotypes in China and their correlation with soil pH suggest the potential significance of GmMOT1.1 and GmMOT1.2 in soybean breeding strategies.

INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF N FERTILIZATION AND BRADIRHIZOBIA JAPANICUM ON AGRONOMICAL TRAITS OF SOYBEAN IN SALT AFFECTED SOILS

Soil salinity has enormous negative impact on crop productivity leading to food insecurity and malnutrition, especially in arid regions. A field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 to evaluate the effects of various N fertilization rates in combination with Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculation on the agronomic perfor-mance of soybean (Glycine max L) in saline soils (EC 5.8 dS m-1). The following fertilization treatments were applied: no fertilization (control), N0Р90К60, N30Р90К60, N60Р90К60 individually and in tandem with B. japonicum as a seed bio-inoculant. The experiment in a split-plot design, N fertilization as the main plot, the seed inoculation as the sub-plot was set up in three replicates. Soybean growth, nutrients uptake and yield parameters increased with increasing N fertili-zation rate, however, the effect was more pronounced with the seed inoculation. Averaged over the cropping seasons, the soybean yield was higher by 20.4%, 19.0%, 34.1% and 6.1% in the inoculated treatments of no-fertlization, N0Р90К60, N30Р90К60, N60Р90К60, respectively as compared to the similar fertilization treatments without the seed inoculation. As a result, fertilization rate of N30Р90К60 in with association B. japonicum inoculation was recommended as this study outcome due to the high soybean yield and quality seeds as the crucial components of sustainable agricultural production under salt-stressed field conditions.

Agronomic performance of soybean and sorghum in a short rotation poplar coppice alley-cropping system under Mediterranean conditions

The transition from conventional arable towards silvoarable systems can increase the delivery of ecosystem services. Nevertheless, the assessment of crop yield under agroforestry condition is crucial to evaluate of the reliability of these systems and to increase the knowledge base needed to support their design. Although the feasibility of poplar short rotation coppice (SRC) silvoarable alley-cropping systems has been widely investigated, few studies have addressed the agronomic response of crops intercropped with poplar SRC in narrow alleys, especially in Mediterranean environments. Thus, this paper treats the effects of SRC poplar rows on soybean and sorghum productivity in a 2-year rotation implemented in an alley-cropping system. A field experiment was carried out in 2018 and 2019 with the objective of measuring and evaluating effects of light availability variation, as affected by the growing rate of 2-year coppice cycle poplar SRC rows, and the soil characteristics on soybean-sorghum and sorghum–soybean rotations. Above-ground biomass, grain yield and crops residue showed a significant reduction in the tree–crop interface up to 74% and sorghum proved to be less tolerant to light reduction compared to soybean. Our results demonstrated that light is the most important factor for sorghum cultivation, despite grain yield was also influenced by the soil characteristics such as pH, while soybean is affected also by soil moisture and water retention capacity. The design of crop rotation in an SRC-based agroforestry system needs to consider the different agronomic performance of different crops and the harvest cycle of tree rows.

Effect of different methods of inoculation and co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense on soybean agronomic performance in fields with a history of inoculation

ABSTRACT The yield gain of soybean inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense is variable. Inoculants can be applied in the sowing furrow or via seed treatment. There is a gap in our understanding of the efficacy of different inoculation methods. This study aimed to assess the agronomic efficiency of soybean inoculated and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and A. brasilense by different methods. The study was conducted in Paraná State, Brazil, in two seasons. Five treatments were tested: control; seed treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. (SBr), seed treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. + A. brasilense (SBr+Az), in-furrow treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. (FBr), and in-furrow treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. + A. brasilense (FBr+Az). Shoot dry weight, grain nitrogen content and grain yield were lower in 2018/19. In 2017/18, FBr+Az increased nodule number and dry weight compared with SBr. FBr+Az promoted a 47% increase in pods per plant compared with the control in both seasons. Regardless of season, grain nitrogen content was higher with FBr+Az (mean relative increase of 27%). FBr+Az was superior to SBr+Az in 2017/18, with a 12% increase in yield. Inoculation and co-inoculation improve morphological traits and soybean yield. In-furrow inoculation is more efficient than seed treatment.

Soybean tolerance to defoliation at the beginning of pod formation as affected by plant density

Soybean tolerance to defoliation may be affected by population density, as the plant population interferes with the crop leaf area index . This study aimed to evaluate the effect of defoliation at the beginning of pod formation on the agronomic performance of soybean at different plant densities. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in Campos Novos, SC, Brazil, during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 growing season. The experimental design was a randomized block in a split-plot arrangement. The main plot consisted of three densities (100,000, 300,000, and 500,000 plants ha−1), whereas the subplots consisted of the cultivar NA 5909 RG submitted to five defoliation levels (0, 16.6, 33.3, 50, and 66.6%). Grain yield ranged from 4,219 to 5,356 kg ha−1 in the 2016/2017 growing season and 3,732 to 5,186 kg ha−1 in the 2017/2018 growing season. Plant density did not interfere with the grain yield response to defoliation performed at the beginning of pod formation. The 16.6% defoliation increase grain yield by 7.5 and 5.6% relative to the control in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 growing seasons, respectively. The soybean tolerate defoliation of up to 33.3% at R3 with no significant decrease in grain yield, regardless of the plant density.

Agronomic Performance of Soybean with Bradyrhizobium Inoculation in Double-Cropped Farming

Land degradation is a serious problem in arid regions, including in Central Asian countries. Soybean symbiosis with rhizobia microbes has an essential role in improving crop productivity and sustaining soil fertility in an arid environment. An experiment was conducted in light straw-colored sierozem soils in the Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan (41.4° N, 64.6° E) under arid conditions over the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 growing seasons. This study aimed to assess the beneficial N fixation (BNF) ability of soybean in association with the Bradyrhizobium R6 strain and the Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 strains and their combined effect on soil fertility and crop yield. The residues of winter wheat and soybean improved soil structure, i.e., soil humus and N and P contents, significantly differing from those on the soybean followed by summer fallow treatment. Furthermore, soybean in association with dual inoculation had the highest N derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) (62.9 kg N ha−1), followed by individual soybean treatments with the R6 and USDA110 strains at 51.9 and 40.6 kg N ha−1, respectively. Improved soil quality positively impacted crop output, increasing winter wheat and soybean yields by 36.5% and 34.6%, respectively. Likewise, the yield parameters, i.e., the number of pods, weight of grain per pods, and 1000 seeds were significantly higher in the inoculated treatment with the highest value observed in the dual-inoculated treatment. These results suggest the insertion of soybean with symbiotic bacteria into the cropping system has considerable potential to contribute to sustainable land management practices in arid zones.

Agronomic performance of soybeans with the presence of volunteer RR corn

The presence of volunteer corn plants among soybeans, both resistant to glyphosate, has increased in recent years in Brazil. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact on the agronomic performance in RR soybeans by the presence of volunteer RR corn in field conditions. The experiment was conducted in Tiradentes do Sul (RS), 2018/19 harvest. The experimental design used in the experiment was randomized blocks with four replications: control in the clean (only soybean) and eight densities of volunteer corn in soybean crop with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 corn plants m-2. In the physiological maturation of soybean, plant height, number of lateral branches, stem diameter, height of insertion of the first pod, number of pods plant-1 and grain yield were evaluated. All variables analyzed were negatively affected by the increase in the density of volunteer corn infestation, where the variables grain yield and number of pods plant-1 were the most affected, 63% and 81%, respectively. The presence of volunteer corn has a high capacity to reduce the yield of soybeans in the proportion of 500 kg ha-1 plant-1 of corn m-2, and even at low densities, it needs control.

Cover crops at soybean agronomic performance in the western region of Paraná state, Brazil

Soybean crop is one of the main activities of Brazilian agribusiness, grown in practically all regions of the country. Even though it is of fundamental importance, the no-till system is fully adopted in a few situations. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of soybean under no-till, with cultivation in succession of cover crops in two growing seasons. The experiment was conducted in Palotina, Paraná state, Brazil. This was a randomized block experimental design, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of seven cover crops: forage turnip, linseed, triticale, rye, canola, crambe, oats and fallow area. In succession, the soybean was planted. The variables, plant height, first pod height, number of pods per plant, 100 grain weight, and grain yield were not influenced by cover crops. Although cover crops did not have a marked influence on agronomic performance, crop assessments are required to investigate other effects from cover crops. It is very important to design systems to achieve sustainability in soybean crop. Cover crops can play a key role in this regard, where we have several species that can be used in the recovery of degraded soils and with the potential for their economic exploitation.

Soybean Agronomic Performance Does Not Change with Gypsum Application in a Cambisol Submitted to Water Restriction in Southern Brazil

Water stress is one of the main limiting factors for soybean crop development, and it may increase due to subsurface soil acidity. The use of agricultural gypsum is a way to improve the soil’s chemical conditions at depth and mitigate the undesirable effects caused by water restriction during drought periods. This study aimed to evaluate whether gypsum application increases soybean yield in water restriction conditions. The experiment was implemented in 2018 in a Humic Cambisol, Southern Brazil. The treatments consisted of two gypsum management procedures (with 1.4 Mg ha-1 and without application) associated with two water conditions (with and without water restriction). The water conditions were promoted by partially covering the soil with plastic tarpaulin sheets, and the of agricultural gypsum used was 1,400 kg ha-1. Soybean was grown in the crop years 2018/19 and 2019/20 to assess root attributes and yield and were analyzed soil’s chemical characteristics. Water restriction reduced soybean yield by 11.4 and 36.8% in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 harvests, respectively, whereas there was no response to gypsum application. The plants’ root system was not affected by the water conditions or gypsum management. It was concluded that water restriction reduces soybean yield, and agricultural gypsum does not mitigate such loss under de evaluated conditions, even though it positively changes some soil chemical parameters.

Weed control and soybean agronomic performance in response to application of sulfentrazone + diuron in pre-emergence

The use of pre-emergent herbicides is an important tool in weedmanagement. Sulfentrazone + diuron mixture was recently launched ontothe market. The objectiveof this work was to evaluate the weed control and the agronomic performance of soybean in response to application of sulfentrazone + diurondoses in pre-emergence. The experiment was conducted in Londrina PR, in an oxisol. The treatments were doses ofsulfentrazone + diuron (62 + 123, 123 + 245, 184 + 368, 245 + 490, 306 + 613 e 368 + 735 g a.i.ha-1). In addition to these treatments, isolated applications of sulfentrazone (245 g a.i.ha-1) and diuron (490 g a.i.ha-1) were evaluated, as well as a weedyand aweed-freecontrol. For the weed control, the wild radish(Raphanus raphanistrum)and itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) emergencewere evaluated. In soybean, photosystem II (PSII)activity, stand, plant height, number of podsper plant, height of insertion of the first pod, number of nodes per plant, mass of a thousand grains and grain yield were evaluated. Results show that the mixture of sulfentrazone + diuron resulted in less than 50% wild radish control, regardless of the dose evaluated. However, for itchgrass, the control was greater than 90% in doses from 123 g sulfentrazone + 245g diurona.i.ha-1. Regarding thesoybeancrop, in doses from 245 g sulfentrazone + 490 g diuron a.i. ha-1 there was a greater number of pods per plant and higher grain yield, of about3,000 kg ha-1. The application of herbicides led to a transient inhibition of PSIIactivity, which did not result in a reduction in crop grainyield, indicating plant recovery. Therefore, the mixture of sulfentrazone + diuron is a good alternative for the weed management in pre-emergence of soybean, and should be positioned according to the history of fieldinfestation.

Suppression of ERECTA Signaling Impacts Agronomic Performance of Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merril) in the Greenhouse.

The ERECTA (ER) family of genes, encoding leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (RLK), influences complex morphological and physiological aspects of plants. Modulation of ER signaling leads to abiotic stress tolerance in diverse plant species. However, whether the gain in stress tolerance is accompanied with desirable agronomic performance is not clearly known. In this study, soybean plants potentially suppressed in ER signaling were evaluated for the phenotypic performance and drought response in the greenhouse. These plants expressed a dominant-negative Arabidopsis thaliana ER (AtER) called ΔKinase to suppress ER signaling, which has previously been linked with the tolerance to water deficit, a major limiting factor for plant growth and development, directly compromising agricultural production. With the aim to select agronomically superior plants as stress-tolerant lines, transgenic soybean plants were subjected to phenotypic selection and subsequently to water stress analysis. This study found a strong inverse correlation of ΔKinase expression with the agronomic performance of soybean plants, indicating detrimental effects of expressing ΔKinase that presumably led to the suppression of ER signaling. Two lines were identified that showed favorable agronomic traits and expression of ΔKinase gene, although at lower levels compared with the rest of the transgenic lines. The drought stress analysis on the progenies of these lines, however, showed that these plants were more susceptible to water-deficit stress as compared with the non-transgenic controls. The selected transgenic plants showed greater stomata density and conductance, which potentially led to higher biomass, and consequently more water demand and greater susceptibility to the periods of water withholding.

Agronomic performance of soybean with indeterminate growth habit in different plant arrangements

Agronomic performance of soybean with indeterminate growth habit in different plant arrangements

Agronomic Performance of Soybean With Seeds Treated With an Algae Extract Base Biostimulant

The use of biostimulants in the treatment of soybean seeds can provide beneficial effects on the crop due to the synergism between the organic components present in products from natural compounds. Due to the scarcity of results of research on biostimulants in the treatment of soybean seeds, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of doses of a biostimulant in the treatment of seeds, on agronomic characteristics, productivity components and profitability of soybean culture. Therefore, two experiments were carried out in the field in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 harvests, using a randomized block design with six replications and four treatments referring to doses of 0.00; 0.05; 0.10; and 0.15 L 100 kg seeds-1. The agronomic characteristics of soybeans, grain yield and profitability of using the biostimulant were evaluated. From the obtained results, it can be seen that the dose of 0.15 L 100 kg seeds-1 provided greater profitability in both harvests. In addition, doses above 0.12 L 100 kg seed-1 provide higher grain yields and a higher grain mass, in addition to other productivity components.

Post-emergence application of herbicides and growth regulators on soybean growth and agronomic performance

Plant lodging is among the factors that limit the productive potential of the soybean crop. Growth regulators or even herbicides may be used in pre- and post-emergence of soybean to minimize the chance of lodging. These products can act to reduce plant height or the number of branches. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and agronomic performance of soybean under the post-emergence application of growth regulators and herbicides. Two experiments were conducted in Palotina, Parana State (PR), Brazil. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used. Treatments consisted of the application mepiquat chloride, trinexapac, cloransulam, lactofen, and control (without application). Crop injury, chlorophyll indices, and variables related to growth and agronomic performance of soybean crop were evaluated. Post-emergence application of lactofen (36 g a.i. ha−1) or cloransulam (33.6 g a.i. ha−1) on soybean (V3–V4) reduced the height of soybean plants, but showed no negative effect on soybean yield. Therefore, these herbicides are alternatives to reduce the lodging of soybean plants. Post-emergence application of mepiquat chloride (100 g a.i. ha−1) was selective to soybean plants, but did not reduce plant growth. Trinexapac application (125 g a.i. ha−1) did not reduce plant growth and had a deleterious potential on soybean yield. Therefore, post-emergence application of trinexapac on soybean is not recommended.

Performance of soybean grown in succession to black oat and wheat

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of isolated or combined roots and straw of black oat and wheat, as previous crops in autumn/winter, on the performance of soybean in succession. The experiment was carried out in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 crop seasons in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates. The following seven treatments were applied in the autumn/winter of 2017 and 2018, before soybean planting: fallow; straw of black oat or wheat, distributed on plots kept under fallow during autumn/winter, without roots; plots only with roots of black oat or wheat, without straw; and plots with straw and roots of black oat or wheat. Soybean crop performance was estimated using the following variables: plant density, leaf area index, soil plant analysis development (SPAD) index, shoot dry matter, grain yield, and yield components. In comparison with fallow, the cultivation of black oat or wheat, as previous crops during the autumn/winter, increases soybean grain yield. The impact of the roots of black oat or wheat on soybean yield is similar to that of straw. Soybean agronomic performance is improved in the combined presence of roots and straw of black oat or wheat.

Control of Conyza spp. with sequential application of glufosinate in soybean pre-sowing

ABSTRACT: Conyza spp. is among the main weeds reported worldwide. Due to its aggressiveness, such as high seed production and dispersion, and the growing reports of biotypes resistant to glyphosate, paraquat, and other herbicides, different control practices are required. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of herbicides with sequential application of glufosinate in soybean pre-sowing for control of Conyza spp. with indicative of resistant to paraquat. The study was carried out in the field, at Assis Chateaubriand and Palotina, state of Paraná, Brazil, in the 2018/19 season. The experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments consisted in application of glyphosate, 2,4-D, saflufenacil, glufosinate, saflufenacil/imazethapyr, diclosulam, paraquat/diuron, paraquat and imazethapyr/flumioxazin, at different combinations, in soybean pre-sowing. Control of Conyza spp., crop injury to soybean plants and variables related to agronomic performance (plant height and yield) were evaluated. All treatments were selective for soybean, which showed stronger crop injury in the presence of diclosulam herbicide, but this did not compromise soybean agronomic performance. In general, control levels were high for the treatments used. Except for paraquat treatments, in the area with the highest frequency of Conyza spp. with indicative of resistant to paraquat, and imazethapyr/flumioxazin treatment in both areas. These control results emphasized the importance of glufosinate in this management system and showed promising results for saflufenacil/imazethapyr.

Bacterial Seed Inoculation and Row Spacing Affect the Nutritional Composition and Agronomic Performance of Soybean

Sowing of bacterial inoculated seeds and using different cultivar-specific row spacing are 2 well-known agricultural practices in soybean production. However, the connection between different bacterial seed inoculations and row spacing has not previously been investigated in a single study. A 3-year field experiment (2015–2017) was carried out on soybean cv. ES Mentor to assess the effect of 4 rhizobia inoculation treatments (un-inoculated control, C; factory-inoculated seed, F; fresh pre-sowing seed treatment with commercial inoculant, I; and a combination of treatments F and I, FI) and 3 row spacings (12.5 cm, 25 cm and 37.5 cm) on the protein, oil, crude fibre and ash content. The seed, protein and oil yields were determined as well as a thousand seed weight, plant height, pod number and harvest index. There was no interaction between plant spacing and inoculation; however, the inoculation treatments enhanced protein content of seeds by 1.2–1.7%, and increased yields of seed, protein and oil by a maximum of 6.8%, 8.3% and 5.9%, respectively, compared to the un-inoculated control, which produced an average seed yield of 4098 kg/ha. The inoculation treatments also had a moderate influence on biometric measurements. Row spacing had a pronounced effect on seed, protein and oil yields, with plants in 12.5 cm and 25 cm row spacings generating higher yields than those in 37.5 cm row spacings. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive association between seed yield and pod number, and a significant negative correlation between protein and oil content.

Phytosanitary risks and agronomic performance of soybeans associated with spatial arrangements of plants

Phytosanitary risks and agronomic performance of soybeans associated with spatial arrangements of plants

Agronomic performance of soybean grown in succession to winter cover crops

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of winter cover crop species on the agronomic performance of soybean (Glycine max) cropped in succession, under a no-tillage system. The study was conducted during three crop seasons (2011/2012, 2012/2013, and 2013/2014), with the following cover crops: white oat (Avena sativa), black oat (Avena strigosa), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), vetch (Vicia sativa), forage radish (Raphanus sativus), the intercrop black oat + forage radish, and wheat (Triticum aestivum) as the standard management. Forage radish and the intercrop black oat + forage radish provided greater soil cover rates after 30 days of planting, as well as dry matter production in the three crop seasons. After 45 and 90 days from desiccation, however, white oat and ryegrass showed the highest soil cover rate. Black oat and the intercrop black oat + forage radish provided higher soybean yield than the standard management with wheat, in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 crop seasons. Winter cover crops can significantly affect soybean yield in succession, and black oat and the intercrop black oat + forage radish stand out for this purpose.