Effect of Polymer Seed Coating With Micronutrients on Soybeans in Southeastern Coastal Plains

Abstract

Polymer seed coating with micronutrients may affect soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) growth and yields under dryland conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two seed application rates (265 and 395 mL 100 kg seeds −1 ) of polymer based mixture of Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) micronutrients on dryland soybeans near Blackville, SC from 2011 to 2012. Soybeans were evaluated for plant Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), plant height, seed weight and grain yields. Compared to untreated control, polymer seed coating significantly increased grain yields by 8.1 and 14.0% with seed applications at 265 and 395 mL 100 kg seeds −1 , respectively. Plant NDVI improved by 10.5% with application of polymer seed coating treatment at 395 mL 100 kg seeds −1 . Seed coating at 265 and 395 mL 100 kg seedssignificantly increased plant NDVI by 10.2 and 10.8% at 8 weeks after soybean planting and 4.6 and 4.2% at 12 weeks after planting. Based on significant linear relationships, grain yields increased by 179.2 kg ha −1 with increasing plant NDVI by 0.1 unit at 6 weeks after planting soybeans and 99.4 kg ha −1 with increasing weight by 1 g of 100 seeds. Treatment application did not affect plant NDVI at 4 through 6 and 9 weeks after planting, plant LAI at 8 and 12 weeks after planting and plant height. These results indicate that polymer seed coating may help to improve some growth parameters and grain yields of soybean under dryland conditions in Southeastern Coastal Plains.

Effect of seed coating on the yield of soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr.

“…The difference amounted to 0.81 t/ha (Table 4). Soybean yield in the study of Wiatrak (2013) increased from 8.1% to 14.0% after sowing seeds with a polymer containing microelements compared to control. Gesch et al (2012) also obtained a beneficial effect of sowing coated seeds on soybean yield, but only in one studied year and at a very early sowing date.…”

“…The lowest values of the examined indices were obtained in 2019 (Table 3). Wiatrak (2013) showed that the result of sowing coated seeds was an increase in the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) and LAI measurements. Hence, the coating with a polymer improved the growth and development parameters of soybean plants in the study of the above author.…”

Soybean Response to Seed Coating with Chitosan + Alginate/PEG and/or Inoculation

“…Apart from inoculation or dressing, soybean seeds can be covered with various types of coatings. Soybean yield in the study of Wiatrak [70] increased from 8.1% to 14.0% after sowing seeds with a polymer containing microelements compared to control. Gesch et al [42] also obtained a beneficial effect of coated seeds on soybean yield, but only in one study year and at a very early sowing date.…”

“…Plant tests performed with optical instruments can be a significant simplification of the methods applied to attain precise determination of the nutritional status of plants during a groing season. Wiatrak [70] showed that the result of sowing coated seeds was an increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and LAI measurements, but only in certain stages of development. The author also demonstrated that coating with polymer did not significantly affect the LAI values.…”