2019
Improving Soybean Yield in the Double Crop Soybean System
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Field management Nutrient managementSoil healthTillageYield trials
Lead Principal Investigator:
Ignacio Ciampitti, Kansas State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
1921
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

Double-crop soybean is one way of increasing production and net return. The objective of this project is to evaluate different management treatments and their effect on double-crop soybean planted after wheat harvest and identify the main yield-limiting factors affecting crop productivity from a perspective of environment and management practices compared to full-season soybeans. The project is based on an all-encompassing experiment, comparing low input common practice, treatments that included all yield enhancing inputs (“kitchen sink” including higher fertility, pest control, row spacing, seed density), and treatments that excluded individual inputs from the “kitchen sink” treatment.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension specialists, ag retailers

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

In 2016, in studies 1 and 2, plant biomass was greater for the wide rows, while lower values were recorded for the non-stay green treatment. For seed yield, in Study 1, the N fixation treatment presented the greatest yield at 64 bu/a, while the common practice was the lowest yield level at 58 bu/a. The yield gap between maximum and minimum yield values in this study was approximately of 6 bu/a (Figure 1). In Study 2, the common practice yielded the least again in addition to the no seed treatment at 57 bu/a. The yield gap from maximum (wide rows treatment) and minimum yielding treatments was 7.5 bu/a.
In 2017, yields were lower for the late planting compared with the early planting, even with the difference of 9 days in planting. Late planting did not present any significant differences in yield. However, early planting presented greater yields for the treatments of high population, N fixation, and kitchen sink. The greatest difference in productivity was between high population and common practices, with a 13 bu/a difference in yields.

Final Project Results

Update:
The project has been completed, all field, seed quality, modeling, and review components were accomplished. The report attached as a first document (File 1) presents the summary of the main outcomes regarding field activities and seed quality analysis (fatty acids). The second document attached (File 2) presents the recently published review paper synthesizing several scientific research studies on this topic and providing new insights on the factors affecting potential yield in double cropped soybeans, primarily governed by planting date and previous wheat yield. More publications and Extension documents are currently in preparation as a part of finishing the efforts of extending this great information to our soybean farmers.

View uploaded report PDF file

View uploaded report 2 PDF file

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.