This research is to investigate whether or not honeybees might be helpful to increasing the number of pods that are kept on soybeans. Two different soybean varieties with two replications will be tested. Hoophouses with insect netting will be constructed over soybean rows at the time of flowering. In some hoophouses, a bee hive will be placed in the house so the bees will visit the soybean flowers inside the hoophouse (treatment #1). In other hoophouses, no bee hives will be place in them to serve as a control (treatment #2). Specific representative plants in the hoophouse will be monitored for the number of flowers and pods through their development. After most of the flowering is complete,...
The importance of pollinators, including honeybees, will be re-evaluated in soybean production. Although, soybeans can produce seed without pollinators, there is new evidence that pollinators may be able to enhance grain production.
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.