Increase In Soybean Yield Research Articles

Effect of potassium rates and application methods in no-till on soil K availability and crop yield

ABSTRACT The combination of potassium (K) fertilization with the adoption of no-tillage (NT) increases the concentration gradient of K in the soil, requiring subsurface layers to diagnose fertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of K rates applied in band or broadcast on the soil K availability and soybean and wheat yield. The study was established in 2019 on a Latossolo (Ferralsol) in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, under NT since 2002. Summer soybeans and winter wheat were cultivated from 2020 to 2022, and rates of K (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha -1 ) were applied annually at soybean sowing. Each rate of K was applied in a band at the seeding row or broadcast on the soil surface. Grain yields and the available K content in the soil at different soil layers (0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.15, and 0.15-0.20 m) were evaluated after the soybean harvest in 2020/2021. The K applied remained close to the application site, at the 0.10-0.15 m layer when applied in band and at the 0.00-0.05 m layer when deposited by broadcast. Band application of K can decrease the K gradient and increase soybean and wheat yield when the available K content is below 64 mg dm -3 in the 0.10-0.20 m soil layer, coinciding with the critical level adopted in the south of Brazil until 2016. The replacement of K removed by soybean and wheat grains under NT with low soil K availability at 0.10-0.20 m should be band applied in-furrow along the sowing line.

Influence of Different Sources and Levels of Phosphorus on Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) and Properties of Low Calcareous Soil

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2023 at Post Graduate Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Pune to study the impact of different phosphorus sources and levels on soybean growth and nutrient uptake in low calcareous soil. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design having eight treatments with three replications. The treatments comprised T1 - Absolute control, T2 - RDF (50:75:45 kg ha-1 N: P2O5: K2O), T3 - 50% P2O5 through PROM, T4 - 75% P2O5 through PROM, T5 - 100% P2O5 through PROM, T6 - 100% P2O5 through DAP + FYM @12.5 t ha-1, T7 - 100% P2O5 through SSP + FYM @12.5 t ha-1 and T8 - 100% P2O5 through vermicompost. The soil of experimental site was clay loam in texture. The findings of the present investigation revealed that the higher nutrient use efficiency was registered in treatment 100% P2O5 through SSP + FYM @12.5 t ha-1 (16.25 kg kg-1). The application of 100% P2O5 through PROM recorded higher nutrient use efficiency (13.31 kg kg-1) over RDF (11.52 kg kg-1). In respect of agronomic nutrient use efficiency, 100% P2O5 through SSP + FYM @12.5 t ha-1 registered higher nitrogen (40 kg grain kg nutrient-1), phosphorus (26 kg grain kg nutrient-1) and potassium efficiency (44 kg grain kg nutrient-1) to soybean crop. The agronomic efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was observed higher in treatment 100% P2O5 through PROM over treatment RDF. After harvest of crop the soil pH was remained unaffected while the electrical conductivity of soil was significantly higher in 100 % P2O5 through vermicompost and PROM to soybean crop. The application of 100% P2O5 either through vermicompost or PROM recorded at par organic carbon content in soil (0.66% and 0.64% respectively). The application of 100% P2O5 through PROM significantly reduced calcium carbonate (6.29%) in soil. The 100% P2O5 through SSP + FYM @12.5 t ha-1 showed higher available nitrogen in soil (297.33 kg ha-1) while the application of 100% P2O5 through DAP + FYM @12.5 t ha-1 exhibited higher level of available phosphorus and potassium content in soil (41.33 and 745.33 kg ha-1, respectively). Further, the application of 100% P2O5 through vermicompost was also significantly superior in available micronutrients like iron (5.7 mg kg-1), manganese (9.9 mg kg-1), zinc (4.6 mg kg-1) and copper (10.4 mg kg-1). The application of 100% P2O5 through PROM registered significantly higher available nitrogen (287.33 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (37.33 kg ha-1), available potassium (737.67 kg ha-1), available micronutrients viz. iron (5.4 mg kg-1), manganese (9.2 mg kg-1), zinc (4.4 mg kg-1) and copper (10.4 mg kg-1) over recommended dose of fertilizers. In general, the integration of organic fertilizers, FYM, PROM and vermicompost, with chemical fertilizers can significantly enhance nutrient use efficiency, soil nutrient content, improve soil health and increase soybean yield in low calcareous soils.

Use of microbiological preparations in the cultivation of promising soybean varieties in the Oryol region

We studied the effect of microbiological preparations on increasing the yield of soybeans of different varieties. The work was carried out in the conditions of the Oryol region in 2019–2023. Objects of research: soybean varieties Leader 1, Mezenka, Orleya, Osmon, Zusha, as well as Biostim Start preparations, Rizoform Soya, Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3, Biodux, used in pre-sowing seed treatment and foliar feeding of soybean plants in phases 1…3 of trifoliate leaves and budding. The highest increase in soybean yield (6.0 %) compared to the control is provided by inoculation of seeds of the Zusha variety with Rizoform Soya in combination with Biostim Start. Pre-sowing seed treatment in combination with foliar fertilizing with preparations Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3, Biodux in the presence of native races of rhizobacteria in the soil contributed to the introduction of microorganisms included in their composition into the rhizosphere community of plants with subsequent participation in the activation of nitrogen nutrition processes of the latter. On average, for varieties, the number and weight of nodules in the variant with pre-sowing treatment and 2 foliar applications increased by 57.6 and 65 %, respectively, compared to the control, nitrogenase activity – by 67.3 %. The use of a combination of the preparations Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3 and Biodux by pre-sowing seed treatment and one foliar feeding in the phase 1…3 of trifoliate leaves provided the greatest increase in the yield of the Leader 1 variety 0.29 t/ha, Zusha – 0.35, Mezenka – 0 .40 t/ha. The maximum increase in protein content in grain was observed in the Mezenka variety in the variant with pre-sowing seed treatment and 1 or 2 foliar fertilizers – by 1.1 and 1.0 %, respectively.

The impact of combined application of biochar and fertilizer on the biochemical properties of soil in soybean fields.

Heilongjiang Province is a major soybean production area in China. To improve soil structure and increase soybean yield, this study examined the effects of combined biochar and chemical fertilizer application on the biochemical properties of soil in a maize-soybean rotation system. The research were conducted from 2021 to 2022 at Heshan Farm Science Park in Heilongjiang Province, this field plot experiment utilized two soybean varieties, Heihe 43 (a high-protein variety) and Keshan 1 (a high-oil variety). In 2021, two plots with similar fertility levels were selected for planting soybeans and maize. In 2022, a maize-soybean rotation was implemented with five treatments: conventional fertilization (CK), increased biochar+reduced fertilizer 1 (F1+B), reduced fertilizer 1 (F1), increased biochar+reduced fertilizer 2 (F2+B), and reduced fertilizer 2 (F2). The study systematically analyzed the effects of combined biochar and chemical fertilizer application on soil chemical properties and microbial characteristics. Over 2 years, results showed that combined application effectively improved soil chemical traits. Compared to conventional fertilization (CK) and reduced fertilization (F1, F2), t he combined application of biochar and chemical fertilizer (F1+B, F2+B) increased soil pH, EC and the absolute value of zeta potential of soil surface, the CEC of soil significantly increased by 15.6-44.3%, the soil surface charge density and the soil surface charge quantity significantly increased by 16.4-73.5%. The combined application of biochar and chemical fertilizer also effectively enhanced the abundance and diversity of soil microbes. Dominant bacterial groups in soybean field soils under different treatments included Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Proteobacteria; while dominant fungal groups were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota. Alpha and Beta diversity analyses revealed that the F1+B treatment significantly enhanced the species richness and diversity of bacteria and fungi in the soil, increasing the proportion and evenness of dominant and beneficial genera.

Surface liming combined with the use of monoammonium phosphate and elemental sulphur in a no‐till wheat–soybean cropping system

AbstractTropical and subtropical soils typically have high acidity and limited nutrient availability. Surface liming under no‐till systems ameliorates topsoil acidity in the short term, but it is generally slow to neutralize subsoil acidity. A field experiment was conducted in the period from 2016 to 2021 in Parana State, Brazil, on a loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Hapludox to evaluate the effects of surface application of lime combined with the use of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and elemental S on soil acidity, root growth, plant nutrition and grain yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max. [L.] Merr.) under no‐till. Treatments consisted of a control (no amendments), surface lime (SL), SL + MAP and SL + MAP + elemental S. Applying lime to the soil surface increased soil pH, exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents and base saturation, as well as reducing Al3+ content and Al3+ saturation throughout the soil profile. Such effects were more pronounced in the 0–10 cm layer and occurred to a lesser extent in the 10–100 cm layers. The addition of MAP or MAP + elemental S did not improve the effectiveness of surface liming in alleviating soil acidity throughout the soil profile. The root length per soil surface area to a depth of 100 cm exhibited a strong correlation with wheat yield, but not with soybean yield. Surface liming increased wheat yield by 40% and when lime application was combined with MAP + elemental S, the increase in wheat yield reached 74%. Surface liming resulted in a 36% increase in soybean yield, regardless of the use of MAP and elemental S. Thus, surface application of lime was effective in reducing soil acidity to a 100‐cm depth, regardless of fertilizer application with MAP and MAP + elemental S. The improving effects of surface liming had a more favourable impact on wheat root growth than on soybean root growth, probably because wheat was more affected than soybean by insufficient rainfall during the crop development cycle. Wheat showed a greater yield response to P and S fertilizer application than soybean.

Growth promotion and modulation of the soybean microbiome INTACTA RR PRO with the application of the fungi Trichoderma harzianum and Purpureocillum lilacinum

Soybean is an economically important crop for animal and human nutrition. Currently, there is a lack of information on the effects of Trichoderma harzianum and Purpureocillum lilacinum on INTACTA RR PRO transgenic soybean plants. The present study evaluated the application of T. harzianum and P. lilacinum under field conditions. The results revealed a significant increase in soybean yield at 423 kg ha−1 in response to the application of P. lilacinum compared with the control treatment. In addition, the application of P. lilacinum promoted a significant increase in phosphorus levels in the plant leaves, and there were significant correlations between the increase in taxon abundance for the genus Erwinia and productivity and the average phosphorus and nitrogen content for the plant leaves, for the taxon Bacillus and nitrogen content and productivity, and for the taxon Sphingomonas and nitrogen content. The Bradyrhizobium taxon was identified in the P. lilacinum treatment as a taxon linking two different networks of taxa and is an important taxon in the microbiota. The results show that the application of the fungus P. lilacinum can increase the productivity of soybean INTACTA RR PRO and that this increase in productivity may be a function of the modulation of the microbiota composition of the plant leaves by the P. lilacinum effect.

Значение бактериальных удобрений в формировании урожая зерновых бобовых культур

Abstract. One of the directions of modern agricultural production is the biologization of agriculture, which provides for a wider use of biological preparations and bacterial fertilizers. The use of bacterial fertilizers restores the fertility of the soil, contributes to increasing the yield and quality of agricultural products. The purpose of the study is to establish the effectiveness of the use of bacterial fertilizers in the cultivation of grain legumes. Methods. The research was carried out for three years, observations and records were carried out according to the generally accepted methodology of field experience. Results. The effectiveness of the application of top dressing with bacterial fertilizers “Azotovit” and “Fosfatovit” in the cultivation of grain legumes (soybeans, lentils) on light gray forest soils has been established. The use of “Fosfatovit” accelerated the ripening of soybeans for 4 days, lentils for 5 days, “Azotovit” influenced the formation of vegetative mass, increasing the number of leaves and the weight of the plant. An increase in the microbiological activity of the soil was noted when applying top dressing with bacterial fertilizers, the maximum value was obtained in variants with joint top dressing with “Azotovit” and “Fosfatovit”, in the experiment with soy, it averaged 72.1 %, in the experiment with lentils 81.5 %. The maximum increase in soybean yield was provided by fertilizing with “Fosfatovit” for an average of 3.97 t/ha over three years. Fertilizing with “Azotovit” and “Fosfatovit” had the greatest effect on lentils, in this variant the yield increased by 0.59 t/ha, or 32.4 % compared to the control. Top dressing with bacterial fertilizers contributed to an increase in crude protein and crude fat in soy and lentil grains. The scientific novelty of the research is to establish the effectiveness of the application of top dressing with bacterial fertilizers in the cultivation of soybeans and lentils in the conditions of the Chuvash Republic.

Profile of mineral nutrients and proteins in soybean seeds (Glycine max (L.) Merrill): Insights from 95 varieties cultivated in Brazil

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) stands out as a major source of protein meal for human and animal nutrition. Nevertheless, the increase in soybean yield has been accompanied by a reduction in protein content over the last decades. In this study, we determined the profile of mineral nutrients and total protein in 95 soybean varieties broadly cultivated in Brazil, the world’s largest soybean producer and exporter, to identify a possible association between seed mineral and protein content. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF) was employed to determine the concentration of macro, i.e., potassium (K), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), and micronutrients, i.e., iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu). The protein content of soybean seeds was evaluated using the Dumas method. The correlation and clustering between nutrients and proteins were determined using both univariate and multivariate non-parametric tests. Both protein and nutrient concentrations were not homogeneous across soybean seed varieties. It was also revealed that the higher the seed protein content, the higher the S, Mn, and Zn concentrations, whereas the opposite trend was observed for K and P. These results indicate an intricate association between S, Zn, Mn, and total protein content in soybean seeds.

SoybeanTracer: An In-Field scene property-based framework for high-throughput soybean canopy coverage extraction and evaluation

Soybean is a crucial plant-based protein and vegetable oil source for the global population and a significant cereal-oil dual-purpose crop. Extracting soybean canopy coverage, subsequently implementing evaluation in a low-cost, high-throughput and accurate manner, is highly valuable for soybean breeding and yield increase. Although the utilization of RGB remote sensing images for soybean analysis offers distinct advantages in terms of its cost effectiveness, there are still issues to be addressed. Specifically, the in-field scene properties of soybean canopy data have rarely been developed and there is a gap in automatic evaluation of soybean canopy coverage. For purpose of tackling these pending issues, this study proposed SoybeanTracer, a novel framework designed to achieve accurate soybean canopy coverage extraction and enable specialized evaluation with low cost and high throughput. The proposed framework comprised two components: Soybean Canopy Segmentation Network (SCSNet) and an agronomic soybean coverage evaluation system. Specifically, SCSNet employed a feature extraction network integrating the homogeneity within plot regions and soybean distribution characteristics. To further address the segmentation challenge of soybean plants with sparse growth posed by genotypes, a soybean multiscale feature fusion module was designed. As a result, SCSNet achieved a mean intersection over union (mIoU) and mean pixel accuracy (mPA) of 89.39% and 94.42%, respectively, on soybean canopy segmentation. Therefore, accurate and low-cost extraction of soybean canopy coverage was achieved through the use of RGB remote sensing data. Furthermore, the soybean canopy coverage evaluation system proposed in this study encompassed five levels, characterized by wider spacing at the two ends and narrower spacing in the middle. This agronomic evaluation system had been effectively implemented on 196 plots. The variance in the pairwise levels of the coverage evaluation results demonstrated the robustness of the evaluation system. SoybeanTracer could indeed help to extract soybean canopy coverage and provide valuable reference for implementing soybean genotype selection, laying a useful foundation for other crops in similar scientific tasks. The source code and trained models were available at https://github.com/KLoAS-Research/SCSNet-SoybeanTracer.

Overexpression of GmPAP4 Enhances Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and Seed Yield in Soybean under Phosphorus-Deficient Condition.

Legume crops establish symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), a process that provides a prominent natural nitrogen source in agroecosystems; and efficient nodulation and nitrogen fixation processes require a large amount of phosphorus (P). Here, a role of GmPAP4, a nodule-localized purple acid phosphatase, in BNF and seed yield was functionally characterized in whole transgenic soybean (Glycine max) plants under a P-limited condition. GmPAP4 was specifically expressed in the infection zones of soybean nodules and its expression was greatly induced in low P stress. Altered expression of GmPAP4 significantly affected soybean nodulation, BNF, and yield under the P-deficient condition. Nodule number, nodule fresh weight, nodule nitrogenase, APase activities, and nodule total P content were significantly increased in GmPAP4 overexpression (OE) lines. Structural characteristics revealed by toluidine blue staining showed that overexpression of GmPAP4 resulted in a larger infection area than wild-type (WT) control. Moreover, the plant biomass and N and P content of shoot and root in GmPAP4 OE lines were also greatly improved, resulting in increased soybean yield in the P-deficient condition. Taken together, our results demonstrated that GmPAP4, a purple acid phosphatase, increased P utilization efficiency in nodules under a P-deficient condition and, subsequently, enhanced symbiotic BNF and seed yield of soybean.

Fine mapping of sterile genes in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merril.) based on cross populations between multi‐elite parent and sterile lines ms1 and ms6

AbstractThe male sterile line of soybean is crucial for hybrid seed production, and has allowed significant advancements in soybean germplasm innovation and yield increase in China. In this study, we created two bulks of sterile plants and collected a natural population consisting of 100 elite soybean germplasms. There were significant phenotypic differences between the sterile and natural populations resulting from flowers and pods. The sterile plants exhibited fleshy spherical pods and large black‐green leaves in the maturity stage, while the leaves of the fertile plants fell off. After I2‐KI staining, the pollen of the sterile line turned light brown and yellow, while the pollen of the fertile line turned black. On the basis of the SNP sequencing results, the sterility genes were located on eight chromosomes. Additionally, they were fine‐mapped to 13 regions on six chromosomes using 72 pairs of SSR markers. Five genes involved in auxin response and pollen development were predicted as candidate genes underlying soybean sterility. These candidate genes for soybean sterility will help with gene cloning and functional analysis and accelerate the widespread use of hybrid seed production and yield increase in soybean grown in cool regions.

Seasonal Analysis of Yield and Loss Factors in Bt Soybean Crops in North Brazil

Tropical crops face significant challenges from abiotic and biotic stressors, resulting in substantial losses. This study aimed to assess the yield and losses in Bt soybean crops in Tocantins state, northern Brazil, during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 growing seasons. We monitored and estimated yield losses and their contributing factors in commercial fields, spanning dry and rainy seasons, from planting to harvest. Our findings revealed that crop yields remained consistent between the dry season (4349.85 kg/ha) and the rainy season (4206.51 kg/ha). Similarly, the overall yield loss showed no significant variation between seasons, with values of 902.86 kg/ha (dry) and 1007.92 kg/ha (rainy). Nevertheless, the factors contributing to these losses exhibited season-dependent variations. We observed higher plant mortality rates during the dry season, whereas insects (particularly stink bugs) and fungi were the primary contributors to grain yield losses during the rainy season. Conversely, losses due to flower abortion and pod malformation remained relatively consistent between the two seasons. Our study underscores the increase in soybean yield in one of Brazil’s agricultural frontiers. While overall yield and losses remained stable between dry and rainy seasons, the distinct seasonal patterns influencing yield losses call for nuanced and season-specific strategies in sustainable crop management.

Effect of nitrogen reduction combined with biochar application on soda saline soil and soybean growth in black soil areas.

The combination of biochar and nitrogen (N) fertilization in agricultural salt-affected soils is an effective strategy for amending the soil and promoting production. To investigate the effect of nitrogen reduction combined with biochar application on a soda saline soil and soybean growth in black soil areas, a pot experiment was set up with two biochar application levels, 0 (B0) and 4.5 t/hm2 (B1); two biochar application depths, 0-20 cm (H1) and 0-40 cm (H2); and two nitrogen application levels, conventional nitrogen application (N0) and nitrogen reduction of 15% (N1). The results showed that the application of biochar improved the saline soil status and significantly increased soybean yield under lower nitrogen application. Moreover, increasing the depth of biochar application enhanced the effectiveness of biochar in reducing saline soil barriers to crop growth, which promoted soybean growth. Increasing the depth of biochar application increased the K+ and Ca2+ contents, soil nitrogen content, N fertilizer agronomic efficiency, leaf total nitrogen, N use efficiency, AN, Tr, gs, SPAD, leaf water potential, water content and soybean yield and its components. However, the Na+ content, SAR, ESP, Na+/K+, Ci and water use efficiency decreased with increasing biochar depth. Among the treatments with low nitrogen input and biochar, B1H1N1 resulted in the greatest soil improvement in the 0-20 cm soil layer compared with B0N0; for example, K+ content increased by 61.87%, Na+ content decreased by 44.80%, SAR decreased by 46.68%, and nitrate nitrogen increased by 26.61%. However, in the 20-40 cm soil layer, B1H2N1 had the greatest effect on improving the soil physicochemical properties, K+ content increased by 62.54%, Na+ content decreased by 29.76%, SAR decreased by 32.85%, and nitrate nitrogen content increased by 30.77%. In addition, compared with B0N0, total leaf nitrogen increased in B1H2N1 by 25.07%, N use efficiency increased by 6.7%, N fertilizer agronomic efficiency increased by 32.79%, partial factor productivity of nitrogen increased by 28.37%, gs increased by 22.10%, leaf water potential increased by 27.33% and water content increased by 6.44%. In conclusion, B1H2N1 had the greatest effect on improving the condition of saline soil; it not only effectively regulated the distribution of salt in soda saline soil and provided a low-salt environment for crop growth but also activated deep soil resources. Therefore, among all treatments investigated in this study, B1H2N1 was considered most suitable for improving the condition of soda saline soil in black soil areas and enhancing the growth of soybean plants.

Soil compaction development facilitated the decadal improvement of the root system architecture and rhizosheath soil traits of soybean in the North China Plain

Machinery agriculture has increased crop yield but induced soil compaction worldwide in the last decades. The crop yield increase is partly attributed to high-yielding crop breeding, but the effects of emerging soil compaction on the selection of root system traits and its impact on yield increase remain unclear. The objectives of this study were 1) to identify the effects of soil compaction on grain yield and root system architecture and rhizosheath soil traits of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) at the full-bloom stage, 2) to understand whether and how the development of soil compaction affected the selection of merit root and rhizosheath soil traits through crop breeding and contributed to soybean grain yield increase. Thirty-four most popular soybean cultivars released before and after the wide use of agricultural machinery in the North China Plain were grown in the fields without (NOM) and with (COM) applied soil compaction in 2017 and 2018. The phenotypes of root system, including rhizosheath soil, of soybean, were separated by soil compaction and cultivar release period, confirming the development of soil compaction and its impacts on the co-development of rhizosheaths with the root system of soybean. The correlation with the year of release of the cultivar demonstrated that 21 out of the 24 measured traits were selected by crop breeding. Multivariate analysis of the variance demonstrated that the selection of thinner hypocotyl, more root tips, and denser rhizosheath soil were relevant to the soil compaction development. The selection of shorter plant height, larger root biomass and area, thinner root tip, thicker taproot, and rhizosheath soil mass were likely relevant to the experimental year factor caused by drought or its associated change in nutrient availability. Most of the selected traits increased the resistance or the resilience to soil compaction and nine of them correlated with the grain yield of cultivars released at different periods. These results for the first time suggested that crop breeding increased grain yield partly by increasing the resistance and resilience to soil compaction. Soil compaction could be considered in a future breeding program design to increase crop breeding efficiency by selecting resistant and resilient root traits.

Control of Volunteer Glyphosate-Resistant Corn in Soybean With Clethodim Plus Adjuvants

In Ontario, volunteer glyphosate-resistant (GR) corn is one the most common annual grass escapes in GR soybean sprayed with glyphosate. Six field experiments were established in southwestern Ontario during 2021 and 2022 to determine volunteer GR corn control in soybean with glyphosate (900 g ae ha-1) + clethodim (45 g ai ha-1) plus three adjuvants. At 1, 2, and 4 WAA, there was no visible soybean injury from the herbicide treatments evaluated. At 1 WAA, glyphosate + clethodim controlled volunteer GR corn 23%; the addition of the adjuvants Amigo®, Journey HSOC®, and StrikeLock® at 0.5% v/v improved control to 45 to 49%; there was no statistical difference in volunteer corn control among the adjuvants evaluated. At 2 WAA, glyphosate + clethodim controlled volunteer GR corn 23%; the addition of the adjuvants Amigo®, Journey HSOC®, and StrikeLock® at 0.5% v/v improved the control to 73 to 79%; there was no statistical difference in volunteer corn control among the adjuvants evaluated.  At 4 WAA, glyphosate + clethodim controlled volunteer GR corn 16%; the addition of the adjuvants Amigo®, Journey HSOC®, and StrikeLock® at 0.5% v/v improved the control to 91 to 95%; there was no statistical difference in volunteer corn control among the adjuvants evaluated. Volunteer corn interference reduced soybean yield by up to 23% in this trial (highest yielding treatment compared to the non-treated control). Reduced volunteer corn interference with clethodim increased soybean yield 13%. Reduced volunteer corn interference with clethodim plus an adjuvant increased soybean yield 27 to 31%. This study concludes that the addition of Amigo®, Journey HSOC®, or StrikeLock® to clethodim improves volunteer GR corn control resulting in a concomitant increase in soybean yield.

No-Tillage System Can Improve Soybean Grain Production More Than Conventional Tillage System.

Soil management systems can directly interfere with crop yield via changes in the soil's physical and hydraulic properties. However, short- to medium-term experiments of conduction do not always demonstrate the modifications of the management systems in these properties. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physical properties of the soil in a long-term management system and to relate it to the storage and availability of water to plants, verifying its effect on soybean yield. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme with four replications. Plots were composed by soil management (conventional tillage and no-tillage), and subplots represented three soil depths (0.0-0.1, 0.1-0.2, and 0.2-0.4 m). The soil's physical and hydraulic properties, root development, and soybean yield were evaluated. The no-tillage system not only presented higher bulk density and soil resistance to compaction up to a depth of 0.2 m but also greater root development. This management also did not affect the process of water infiltration in the soil and presented an increase in soybean grain yield by 6.5%. The long-term no-tillage system (33 years) offers less risk of water stress to soybean plants; it contributes to greater grain yield of this crop when compared to the conventional tillage system.

Physiological responses and transcriptome analysis of soybean under gradual water deficit.

Soybean is an important food and oil crop widely cultivated globally. However, water deficit can seriously affect the yield and quality of soybeans. In order to ensure the stability and increase of soybean yield and improve agricultural water use efficiency (WUE), research on improving drought tolerance and the efficiency of water utilization of soybeans under drought stress has become particularly important. This study utilized the drought-tolerant variety Heinong 44 (HN44) and the drought-sensitive variety Suinong 14 (SN14) to analyze physiological responses and transcriptome changes during the gradual water deficit at the early seed-filling stage. The results indicated that under drought conditions, HN44 had smaller stomata, higher stomatal density, and lower stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate as compared to SN14. Additionally, HN44 had a higher abscisic acid (ABA) content and faster changes in stomatal morphology and Gs to maintain a dynamic balance between net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and Gs. Additionally, drought-tolerant variety HN44 had high instantaneous WUE under water deficit. Further, HN44 retained a high level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and proline content, mitigating malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and drought-induced damage. Comprehensive analysis of transcriptome data revealed that HN44 had fewer differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under light drought stress, reacting insensitivity to water deficit. At the initial stage of drought stress, both varieties had a large number of upregulated DEGs to cope with the drought stress. Under severe drought stress, HN44 had fewer downregulated genes enriched in the photosynthesis pathway than SN14, while it had more upregulated genes enriched in the ABA-mediated signaling and glutathione metabolism pathways than SN14. During gradual water deficit, HN44 demonstrated better drought-tolerant physiological characteristics and water use efficiency than SN14 through key DEGs such as GmbZIP4, LOC100810474, and LOC100819313 in the major pathways. Key transcription factors were screened and identified, providing further clarity on the molecular regulatory pathways responsible for the physiological differences in drought tolerance among these varieties. This study deepened the understanding of the drought resistance mechanisms in soybeans, providing valuable references for drought-resistant soybean breeding.

Nutritional Value of Soybean under Outdoor Hydroponics and Soil Conditions of the Ararat Valley

Background: Population growth increases the demand for food all over the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, by 2050 the world population will reach 9.1 billion people, for whom food production is expected to increase by 25-70 %. That will lead to an increase in the demand for alternative farming technologies allowing us to ensure higher yields in less time. One such alternative and highly profitable plant growing technology is soilless culture or hydroponics. Climate change, improved technological capabilities, and need to increase self-sufficiency are good reasons for the introduction of soybean in Armenia.Soy, as one of the richest and cheapest sources of protein, plays an important role in the diet of people in many countries. The seed of soybeans contains 17 % oil and about 50 % protein. Because soybeans contain no starch, they are a good source of protein for diabetics.Objective: To establish the possibility and efficiency of soybean cultivation in Ararat Valley by traditional agricultural method and by the regulated hydroponic system and to investigate the nutritional value of soybean seeds.Results: The cultivation method had some influence on soybean yield and on the biosynthesis of several nutritional components. Thus, soilless culture conditions contributed to the increase in soybean yield: the weight of seeds obtained from one plant was 38.7 g while in the soil it was only 19.9 g. Soil plants were distinguished by the maximum accumulation of fat (28.9 %), while hydroponic ones by the maximum content of protein (31.5 %) and sugar (6.3 %).Conclusion: The obtained results established the effectiveness of soybean cultivation in Armenia. The regulated hydroponic method ensures obtaining about 11.6 tons ha-1 of soybean seeds, 3.7 tons ha-1 of protein and 2.6 tons ha-1 of fat. The work was supported by the Science Committee of the Republic of Armenia, in the frames of the research project N 21T-4B167.Keywords: Glycine max (L.) Merr., soilless culture, proteins, fats, sugars

Responses of Soybean with a Biofertilizer contains Ochrobactrum sp., Alcaligenes sp., and Bacillus sp. and the various doses of NPK fertilizer in Inceptisols, West Java

In the development of biofertilizers, it is necessary to carry out field tests to determine their effectiveness. This objective research is to know the ability of Ochrobactrum sp., Alcaligenes sp., and Bacillus sp. consortium on responses of soybean, carried out on Inceptisols Bogor, West Java. The research consists of seven treatments they control, a recommended dose of NPK, and five combinations of the microbial consortium with various dosages of NPK. The Urea, SP36, and KCl recommended dose measured by the upland soil test kit is 50, 100, and 100 kg ha−1. The research showed that NPK50% and NPK75% combined with microbial consortium as biofertilizer give soybean yield of 2.89 t ha−1 and 2.93 t ha−1, while the recommended NPK (NPK100%) yielded a soybean of 2.82 t ha−1. Biofertilizers can reduce the dose of NPK used by as much as 50%, equivalent to Urea 25 kg ha−1, 50 kg ha−1 SP36, and 50 kg ha−1 KCl, increase soybean yield by 13-21%, and improve relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) value by 143-173%. Biofertilizer utilization is a promising strategy for inorganic fertilizers efficiency, increasing soybean yield in Inceptisols soil, and being environmentally friendly.

Use of interpretive machine learning and a crop model to investigate the impact of environment and management on soybean yield gap

Context Management and environmental conditions are the main factors influencing yield of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Despite an increase in average soybean yield in recent years in Iran, a considerable gap remains between actual yield and potential yield. Aims The objective of this study was to identify critical climate and management factors affecting soybean yield in Iran’s major soybean production area. Methods A combination of machine learning approaches (using gradient boosted decision trees, XGBoost) and the SSM-iCrop2 simulation model was used. Critical management factors affecting soybean yield were determined through interpretive machine learning using information collected from 268 soybean fields over a 5-year period. Potential yield and water-limited potential yield at six weather stations were estimated for 30 years via the SSM-iCrop2 simulation model. Water limitation was determined by considering the ratio of water-limited yield potential to potential yield, and heat stress status was quantified as the number of days with maximum temperature >36°C during the soybean growing season. Key results The XGBoost models adequately described the observed changes in soybean yield. Root-mean-square error and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient values of the calibrated model were 262 kg ha−1 and 0.96, respectively, which indicated that the predictor variables could describe most of the variation in soybean yield for the studied dataset. Conclusions We identified 15 climatic and management variables that affect soybean yield. A large part of the studied area is under high water stress and low heat stress. Implications Optimal planting date and improved irrigation management are the main options for reducing the yield gap in the study area.