Soybean Biomass and Nitrogen Accumulation Rates and Radiation Use Efficiency in a Maximum Yield Environment

Abstract

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] physiological characterization in a maximum yield environment may identify yield‐optimization factors, lead to reassessment of fundamental crop model parameters, and provide guidance for management or breeding efforts. From 2011 to 2013, we characterized biomass and N accumulation rates, radiation use efficiency (RUE), and yield for four or five cultivars in a maximum‐yield contest field. Grain yield among cultivars ranged from 5290 to 7953 kg ha−1. The highest yields were observed in 2013, when biomass and N accumulation rates ranged from 45.6 to 64.3 g m−2 d−1 and 1.43 to 2.08 g N m−2 d−1, respectively, and when RUE values ranged from 1.46 to 1.89 g MJ−1. The observed crop growth characteristics in 2013 were near or above the maximum values previously reported in the literature. These empirical measurements provide collateral data documenting a soybean crop with grain yields approximately 6719 kg ha−1.

A high seed yield and associated attributes of dry matter production achieved by recent Japanese soybean cultivars

“…The maximum RUE obtained in the current study (1.68 g MJ −1 for Hatsusayaka in 2015) was 17 to 32% higher than previously reported high RUE values in Japan: 1.40 g MJ −1 (Shiraiwa et al, 1994), 1.26 g MJ −1 (Nakaseko & Goto, 1983), and 1.15 g MJ −1 (Sinclair & Shiraiwa, 1993 ) were determined for high-yielding soybean in Missouri, U.S.A. (Van Roekel & Purcell, 2014). The high RUE in the current study could have resulted from the vigorous growth Table 4.…”

“…In their review of RUE, Sinclair and Muchow (1999) ) was reported for high-yielding soybean in Missouri, U.S.A. (Van Roekel & Purcell, 2014). In Japan, the previously reported high The field was fertilized with compound fertilizer before sowing at rates of 20, 56, and 56 kg ha −1 of N, P 2 O 5, and K 2 O, respectively.…”

“…Specht et al (1999) estimated that soybean's yield potential could reach 800 g m −2 if the estimated seed yield limit for corn was 2250 g m −2 and the ratio of corn yield to soybean yield was 2.8. In fact, very high soybean yields that approach or exceed this estimated potential yield have been reported: 795 g m −2 (Van Roekel & Purcell, 2014) and 920 g m −2 (Isoda et al, 2006). The maximum soybean yields in the current study (590 and 658 g m −2 in Hatsusayaka and Sachiyutaka, respectively; Table 2) were 18 and 26% lower than that estimated potential yield but were equivalent to or higher than the previously reported high yields in Japan, which ranged from 528 to 649 g m −2 (Nakaseko et al, 1984;Shimada et al, 1990;Spaeth et al, 1987).…”

Contribution of roots and shoots of Brachiaria species to soybean performance in succession

“…The accumulation of N in soybean shoots in R3 was positively correlated with grain yield (r=0.75). High-grain yields of soybeangreater than 5 Mg ha -1 -is subjected to high rates of accumulation of dry matter and N by the crop (Van Roekel & Purcell, 2014).…”

Soybean yield gaps and water productivity in the western U.S. Corn Belt

“…Average irrigated and rainfed on-farm soybean yields in Nebraska (3.9 and 2.9 Mg ha −1 , respectively) are well below maximum yields of 6 to 7 Mg ha −1 measured in optimally-managed, non-water limited experimental trials and in credibly documented yield contest-winning fields across the U.S. Corn Belt. This has led to several reports commenting on the degree of the difference between producer yield and Y P , hereafter referred as the yield gap (Y G ) (Specht et al, 1999;Sinclair and Rufty, 2012;Van Roekel and Purcell, 2014). However, published data on the magnitude of soybean Y G are scarce.…”