Historical Project Details: Cropping systems modeling tools to improve soybean management and yields in Iowa (2015)

2015

Cropping systems modeling tools to improve soybean management and yields in Iowa

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Contributor/Checkoff:

Iowa Soybean Association

Category:

Sustainable Production

Keywords:

Field management Nutrient managementSoil healthTillageYield trials

Parent Project:

This is the first year of this project.

Lead Principal Investigator:

Sotirios Archontoulis, Iowa State University

Co-Principal Investigators:

Christopher J Anderson, Iowa State University
Michael Castellano, Iowa State University
Mark Licht, Iowa State University
Fernando Miguez, Iowa State University

+3 More

Project Code:

Contributing Organization (Checkoff):

Iowa Soybean Association

(n/a)

Institution Funded:

Iowa State University

(n/a)

Final Report

Brief Project Summary:

Has soybean yield potential been reached or has it been limited by a confluence of factors such as genotypes, soil, climate and management? The answer is complex and requires comprehensive science-based tools that integrate many factors. The project goal is to improve soybean yields by using science-based mechanistic tools that measure N fixation and relevant crop/soil data during the growing season to better understand N uptake dynamics and develop robust pre-season decision support tools to provide insights into factors limiting soybean yields. The tool also forecasts soybean yields, crop growth and water/nitrogen requirements in real-time. Once the tool is fully calibrated, it can be applied to support both pre- and in-season decision making.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents

Information And Results

Project Deliverables

Year 1 – 2014/2015:
1. A soybean phenology prediction web-tool (http://www.agron.iastate.edu/CroppingSystemsTools/)
2. Preliminary analysis of the soybean yield gaps in Iowa
3. A list of research priorities for soybean based on model analysis and literature review
4. Results on N-fixation from the experimental trials (1st experimental season)

Year 2 – 2015/2016:
1. A calibrated version of the APSIM-soybean model that will drive further analysis
2. Updated version of the soybean yield gaps and factors causing these gaps
3. New results on N-fixation and the associated N credit (2nd experimental season)
4. Hindcast results (effects on climate variability, i.e. wet springs, on soybean yields)

Year 3 – 2016/2017:
1. A list of management practices that will lead to reducing the yield gap for representative locations
2. Soybean N credit and biological N fixation estimates
3. What-if scenario analysis towards increasing soybean yields
4. Final version of the phenology predictor

Final Project Results

Briefly (the results are explained in the project report) the key-results from this project so far are:
a) Simulated maximum yield potential for soybean in Iowa of 90 bu/acre
b) The associated yield gap varies with variety choice and date of planting
c) Web-tool: http://www.agron.iastate.edu/CroppingSystemsTools/
d) Optimum plant population varies with date of planting
e) N-fixation experiments successfully completed, the results will be announced later

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.