Location: Crop Genetics Research
Project Number: 6066-21220-016-002-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 1, 2021
End Date: May 31, 2026
Objective:
1. To evaluate nutrient uptake and agronomic characteristics of commercially available soybean varieties.
2. Determine economic productivity limitations associated with commercially available soybean varieties.
Approach:
For Objective one, soybean varieties with commercially available technology traits will be evaluated across early maturity group 4 through mid-maturity group 5. Each selected variety will be seeded in eight row plots (4 rows for destructive sampling and 4 rows for yield) approximately 11 m in length and 8.1 m wide. Varieties will be seeded at approximately 56,656 seed ha-1. After emergence, stand counts will be taken to determine an early (V4) and final (R8) plant population. Aboveground total biomass will be collected from each experimental unit at V4, R1, R5, R6.5, and R8 from 1m of row to aid in determining nutrient uptake. Biomass will be dissected into leaves and stems for early samples and leaves, stems, and yield components for samples after the onset of reproductive growth. After dissection, samples will be dried, ground, digested and analysis for nutrient composition (N, P, K, S, CA, Mg, Mn, B, Zn) will be determined by ICP. At R8 harvest index will be determined as well as seeds m2 and seed size. At harvest, yield will be measured with a small plot combine from the center two rows of each plot that was not sampled for biomass. Two planting dates per year for three years will be evaluated. Each trial will be placed into an irrigated environment and arranged as a split-plot, with planting date as the whole plot and variety trait as the sub-plot. Treatments will be replicated four times.
For Objective two, soybean varieties with commercially available technology traits will be evaluated across early maturity group 4 through mid-maturity group 5. Yield and seed quality analysis will be collected from harvested rows and used in production enterprise budgets. Inputs for each technology traited variety will be managed as needed/appropriate. Herbicide and weed control decisions will be conducted for each variety and with the proper chemical matrix for each trait. All inputs will be recorded and utilized to determine an economic advantage of choosing one system over the other. Growth stage will be recorded weekly for each variety to determine differences in crop growth among technology traits. Rate of canopy closure will be evaluated on a bimonthly basis. Mississippi State University partial budget generator Excel spreadsheets for Delta irrigated soybean production will be used to determine total production costs of each system.
