Nutrient Removal by Grain in Modern Soybean Varieties

Abstract

Knowing the nutrient removal by soybean grain harvest in different varieties, locations, and over time is essential to correctly adjust agronomic recommendations, update farmers’ practices, and increase nutrient use efficiency. A field-based research trial was carried out to assess macronutrients [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S)] removed in grain by modern soybean varieties from southern Brazil introduced between 2007 and 2016. We examined changes between our set of modern varieties and a dataset of historical values encompassing a wide range of varieties introduced before 2007. Moreover, we undertook a synthesis analysis using scientific literature published after 2007 to investigate nutrient removal by grain among modern Brazilian soybeans and a dataset that included field trials from Argentina, United States, and India. There were no yield gains across the years for modern soybean varieties introduced among 2007 and 2016 in Brazil, although the grain N and Mg concentrations decreased. Modern Brazilian soybeans increased nutrient removal compared with that by soybeans historically planted in Brazil, with 11.1, 26.9, 45.0, and 31.6% more N, P, K, and Mg removed, respectively. Our results indicated that soybean growing in Brazil removed 4.3% less N relative to the values reported in the literature dataset, whereas K removal was 21.4% greater. A significant difference was also recorded for high-yield soybean varieties, and Brazilian varieties removed 11.8% less N and 8.6% more K than varieties in the literature dataset. No differences were found among locations for P removal, averaging 4.9 kg Mg–1 grain. In conclusion, this study indicates that the amounts of nutrients removed by modern soybean varieties were greater relative to the historical values recorded in Brazil, excluding Ca and S. Nonetheless, in the middle to long term (10 years), a significant impact of plant breeding on grain nutrient concentration was recorded only for N and Mg. The difference in nutrient removal patterns between Brazil and other countries indicates an integrated effect of management, genotype, and environment on nutrient removal. These findings provide guidance for optimal nutrient management and specific information for plant breeding programs to understand nutrient variability.

The effect of struvite fertilization (Crystal Green) on the nutritional value of soybean

“…In the research conducted by Neto et al (2017) 77 , the micronutrient content of soybeans were not signi cant under S fertilization. In the study of Sohrabi et al…”

Understanding the combining ability of nutritional, agronomic and industrial traits in soybean F2 progenies

“…There is undeniable an effort in the breeding programs to select genotypes with higher yields than those already grown today. However, some gaps also need to be addressed by breeders, especially regarding traits of interest to the industry (oil and protein contents) 4 , uptake of nutrients by genotypes in Brazilian Cerrado 5 , besides seeking to increase grain yields 6 .…”

Identification of Modern High-Yield Soybean Genotypes for Potassium-Use Efficiency in Sandy Soil of the Brazilian Cerrado

“…Soybeans have a high K requirement; on average, the rate of K extraction by the plants is around 42 to 48 kg of K for the production of one ton of grain [10,13]. Therefore, large quantities of K are required by soybean plants since this crop is highly sensitive to K deficiency [14], especially the modern high-yield soybean genotypes.…”

“…Therefore, large quantities of K are required by soybean plants since this crop is highly sensitive to K deficiency [14], especially the modern high-yield soybean genotypes. Indeed, Esper-Neto et al [13] reported that the amount of K removed by modern soybean genotypes was 21% to 45% higher compared with soybean genotypes historically planted in Brazil during the 20th century. The K deficiency limits plant development and the grain yield of soybeans by negatively affecting vital plant processes such as water status, cellular turgidity, protein synthesis, assimilate transport, cell expansion, and enzyme activation [15][16][17].…”

“…The ability of the root system to acquire large amounts of K from the soil and translocate this nutrient to the shoots of plants plays a key role in improving the K-use efficiency of soybean genotypes [19]. Therefore, the use of soybean genotypes with a vigorous root system capable of extracting large amounts of exchangeable K from the soil, or roots with a greater capacity to solubilize non-exchangeable K from the soil through the exudation of organic acids, is fundamental for the sustainability of Brazilian soybean production systems [6,13,20]. This fact has been even more relevant in recent years, because farmers use new soybean genotypes with greater productive potential each growing season, increasing the requirement and demand for soil K in Brazilian soybean fields [13].…”