2019
Improving Soybean Yields by Enhancing Seed Filling
Home
Contributor/Checkoff:
Kansas Soybean Commission
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Field management Nutrient managementSoil healthTillageYield trials
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Ignacio Ciampitti, Kansas State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
1976
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Kansas Soybean Commission
$27,500
Institution Funded:
Kansas State University
$27,500
Brief Project Summary:

Soybeans accumulate between 30-50% of the final yield during the seed filling period (R5-R7). Research shows improving “green leaf area” duration and extending the seed filling period by only 7 days provided a yield benefit of more than 10 bu/acre. Therefore, further investigation needs to be done on management practices that can extend the seed-filling period (at least for a few days) impacting soybean yields across different environments. Project goals include identifying late-season management practices that improve final seed number and weight, and seed yield. Enhancing seed filling is critical for improving soybean yields under varying environments and changing climate-economic scenarios.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension specialists

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

The project will provide outcomes to help identify on-farm production practices that are blocking yield potential and provide data for possible management practices to increase yields. All project outcomes will be disseminated in diverse research and extension communication outlets to help Kansas soybean producers for maximizing financial returns and preserve the land and water resources under their control.

Final Project Results

Update:
The objective of this study was to identify “late-season” management practices contributing to increase final seed weight and seed yield in soybeans. Rate and duration of seed filling were not affected by any of the evaluated treatments (Figs. 2, 3 - see attached report). Thus, variation observed in all the investigated variables can be mainly attributed to the spatial variability of the experimental conditions.

View uploaded report Word file

Seed yield ranged between 34.2 and 52.3 bu ac-1 and seed weight ranged from 132 to 166 mg seed-1, respectively. However, statistical differences among treatments were not detected for neither yield nor seed weight. Treatments applied neither affect final seed weight nor seed yield. Furthermore, across all treatments similar trends were observed for the seed growth rate and seed filling duration. Future research should consider evaluating the effect of the treatments here tested at different crop growth stages.

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.