The project can be dissected in FIVE major components:
1) Historical component: Soybean contest winners for yield will be identified as potential collaborators (at least 4 farmers across diverse regions). Historical soybean information (last 5 yrs) on high-yielding soybean systems will be recorded from these farmers in order to better understand interaction of production practices x weather x economic scenarios from the most recent years.
2) Baseline Information: Characterize all production practices including input usage, field operation timing, and other activities implemented by the farmer in the current growing season (1st year of the project).
Example of production practices potentially to be identified in a contest winner’s farmer including input usage, field operation timing, and other activities. Specific examples may include: 1) Planting date prior to May 10; 2) Narrow row spacing (15”-7.5”); 3) Seeding rates ranged from 130 to 160 thousand per acre; 4) Seed treatment; 5) Application of foliar fungicides/ insecticides when required (based on disease infestation and insect incidence, # insects per plant); 6) Apply nutrients, P, K, S, when soil testing is low.
3) Soybean Yield Dissection: Extensively characterize soil, weather, plant growth, nutrient uptake, and main yield limiting factors during the current growing season (1st yr of the project). For this objective, proper screening of field conditions is needed. One (1) acre of the field will be jointly selected (farmer and PI-collaborators) for identifying physiological, nutrient, and all yield limiting factors. Farmers will get compensated for the use of the land at the yield obtained in the best area of their field (e.g. 75 bushels per acre x $9/bu = $675). Several 500-sq ft areas will be collected at varying growth stages.
Plant measurements to be determined:
- Leaf Area Index (LAI, derived via a LiCOR machine), light interception, and
Chlorophyll (SPAD) readings will be taken at the same moment of the biomass sampling.
- Visual disease and insect ratings from bottom, middle, and top of soybean canopy. - Grain yield components – pod number, grain number per pod, and grain weight harvested from the non-destructive areas (where “plant traits” are determined).
- Nodulation measurements at multiple growth stages (number of nodules).
- Plant biomass [e.g. Early season –V5, R3 stage-] and dry mass will be calculated and samples will be prepared for nutrient testing (complete nutrient analysis).
On-farm field characterization of all four-soybean environments (Chris Bodenhausen, Muscotah; Andy Winsor, Perry; Justin Knopf, Salina; and Ron Ohlde, Morganville).
4) Outreach:
A multifaceted extension and outreach program will include participation from faculty in cooperation with grower organizations, and producers. Information from this study will be presented at extension activities and the topics tailored to each specific audience. Presenting in field days, production schools, summer tours, and grower-oriented meetings will be key-component of this proposal. The PI will collaborate with Area Agronomists, Kansas Soybean, and agriculture and natural resources extension agents to identify farmers for this project and the needs of local clientele. All the information produced from this study will be available via the utilization of diverse communication venues
(websites, social media, extension programming, radio, television interviews, and press).