2021
Validation of Soil Test Potassium Recommendations and Plant Tissue Analysis to Optimize Soybean Yield
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomicsSeed quality
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Bhupinder Farmaha, Clemson University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:
Soybean yields have increased substantially due to better management of improved varieties. One question is, “Are Clemson’s current potassium fertilizer recommendations good enough to sustain high soybean yields?” Previous research conducted in-depth work on evaluating K recommendations and plant analysis to optimize yield. This project expands that work to on-farm trials and verifies if results obtained at on-station trials are aligned with the results of on-farm trials. This helps create more robust datasets testing K fertility recommendations across production environments. The research will generate new information by evaluating the response of soybean yield across four application rates, determining K removal values for soybean and correlating the trifoliate leaf K concentration with soil test levels.
Key Beneficiaries:
#agronomists, #extension agents, #farmers
Unique Keywords:
#fertility, #fertilizer, #k, #potassium, #soil fertility
Information And Results
Project Summary

Soybean yields have increased substantially in recent decades due to better management of improved varieties. The question being asked is, “Are Clemson’s current potassium (K) fertilizer recommendations good enough to sustain high soybean yields?” In phase one, we have conducted in-depth work at Edisto REC on evaluating K recommendations and plant analysis to optimize yield. In the second phase, we want to expand this work to on-farm trials and verify if results obtained at on-station trials are aligned with the results of on-farm trials. This will help us to create more robust datasets testing K fertility recommendations across production environments. The proposed research will generate new information that will make Soybean production in South Carolina more productive and profitable.

Project Objectives

1. Evaluate the response of soybean yield across four application rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 pounds K2O per acre).
2. Determine K removal values for soybean.
3. Correlate the trifoliate leaf K concentration with soil test levels.

Project Deliverables

Outputs will be a better understanding of soybean potassium management and improve soybean profitability. The results from this study will be presented to extension agents and producers in field days and winter meetings. We are planning to do this trial for two years. At the end of the second year, results will be compiled into an extension article made available for stakeholders along with a short (< 5 minutes) YouTube video.

Progress Of Work

Updated April 14, 2021:

View uploaded report Word file

Updated July 15, 2021:

View uploaded report Word file

Updated October 15, 2021:

View uploaded report Word file

Updated December 16, 2021:

View uploaded report Word file

Final Project Results

Updated January 19, 2022:

View uploaded report Word file

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

Outputs will be a better understanding of soybean potassium management and improve soybean profitability.

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.