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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217368
Title: Soybean Growth and Seed Yield Response to Tillage and Compost

Author
item Singer, Jeremy
item Logsdon, Sally
item Meek, David

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/14/2008
Publication Date: 6/17/2008
Citation: Singer, J.W., Logsdon, S.D., Meek, D.W. 2008. Soybean Growth and Seed Yield Response to Tillage and Compost. Agronomy Journal. 100:1039-1046.

Interpretive Summary: Plant response to organic amendment often varies and may interact with tillage. The objectives of this research were to quantify soybean water use and nutrient uptake to understand whole-plant and seed yield response to compost amendment and tillage intensity. A corn-soybean-wheat/clover rotation, with or without compost was initiated in 1998 in plots that had been managed with moldboard plow (MP), chisel plow (CT), or no-tillage (NT) since 1988. No tillage by amendment interaction for seed yield was detected. Yield was similar in MP and CT. In 2003, yield was similar among tillage systems, but NT yielded 15% greater than MP and CT in 2004 and 8% lower in 2005. Mean yield across the three years was similar. Compost-amendment increased yield (9%) compared to non-amended soil only in 2004. Mean yield was 2% higher with compost than without. Depth of water from the 0 to 90 cm soil depth was not affected by tillage or amendment. Soybean growing on compost-amended soil had less seed protein compared to non-amended soil. Alternatively, seed oil content was 2% and 1% lower in non-amended than amended soil in 2003 and 2004. These results indicate while year-to-year variability in yield for different tillage systems occurs, across years, soybean yields the same regardless of tillage intensity. Furthermore, adding compost may result in a small overall increase in seed yield. Farmers can use this information to help them determine the best combination of tillage and amendment for their farming systems.

Technical Abstract: Plant response to organic amendment often varies and may interact with tillage. The objectives of this research were to quantify soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] water use and nutrient uptake to understand whole-plant and seed yield response to compost amendment and tillage intensity. A corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/clover (Trifolium spp.) rotation, with or without compost was initiated in 1998 in plots that had been managed with moldboard plow (MP), chisel plow (CT), or no-tillage (NT) since 1988. No tillage by amendment interaction for seed yield was detected. Yield was similar in MP and CT. In 2003, yield was similar among tillage systems, but NT yielded 15% greater than MP and CT in 2004 and 8% lower in 2005. Mean yield across the three years was similar. Compost-amendment increased yield (9%) compared to non-amended soil only in 2004. Mean yield was 2% higher with compost than without. Water depth from the 0 to 90 cm soil depth was not affected by tillage or amendment. Seed P and K uptake were 18% and 16% greater in NT compared to MP and CT and 16% and 13% greater with compost than without in 2004. Soybean growing on compost-amended soil had less seed protein compared to non-amended soil. Alternatively, seed oil content was 2% and 1% lower in non-amended than amended soil in 2003 and 2004. The mechanisms responsible for compost-enhanced plant growth are difficult to quantify in the field under natural conditions because effects are short-lived or too extreme.