Soybean Development and Productivity in Response to Organic Management above the Northern Boundary of Soybean Distribution in Europe

Abstract

Climate change, new varieties, better technological abilities, and increased demand for local resources provide significant reasons to introduce soybeans in northern regions, above the typical soybean distribution area in Europe. This research examined the effects of two delayed sowing times, wide 25 cm and 50 cm row spacings, seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and the interaction of all these factors on soybean development and productivity in an organic farming system. Length of soybean vegetation varied from 142 to 161 days at latitude 55° N. Yield varied from 673 to 3154 kg ha−1 in response to management factors. In the dry 2015 year, the combination of later sowing dates and wide 50-cm row spacing significantly (p < 0.01) increased the number of pods per plant by 28%, aboveground dry biomass by two times, and seed yield by 36% plant−1. In the wet 2016, yield components reached their highest values of 16.8 g dry biomass, 19.9 pods plant−1 and 7.9 g seeds plant−1 when inoculated soybeans were sown earlier, with 50-cm row spacings. Protein content significantly varied from 27.4 to 35.3%, and fat content 17.4–21.5%. This study suggests that regular soybean development could be maintained in organically managed locations above the present northern soybean distributional region, but its development, productivity, and production quality significantly depends on management practices.

Effects of autumn and spring primary tillage on soybean yield and 1000-grain weight in the agro-ecological conditions of Serbia

“…The effect of year, cultivar, and tillage on 1000-grain weight (g) A significant yield component is 1000-grain weight, which besides yield, serves as the best indicator of suitability for soybean production across years or regions (Dozet et al, 2009). The results obtained by Toleikiene et al, (2021) indicated that unfavourable growing conditions during seed reproductive growth stage significantly affected 1000-grain weight. Soybean cultivars Rubin and Sava had the highest 1000-grain weight, whereas Galina had the lowest value for the trait, both after autumn and spring primary tillage (Table 5).…”

Effect of seed treatment by low-frequency electromagnetic field on soybean productivity

“…Najveća masa 1.000 zrna bila je u najpovoljnijoj proizvodnoj 2014. godini (189,99 g), za razliku od druge dve godine. Istraživanje Toleikiene et al (2021) ukazuje da su nepovoljni uslovi tokom faze reproduktivnog rasta značajno uticali na smanjenje mase 1.000 zrna. Stimulacija semena sa PEMP je pozitivno uticala na povećanje mase 1.000 zrna (155,87 g) u odnosu na varijantu bez stimulacije (152,83) na nivou značajnosti od p<0,01.…”

Possibility of Vegetable Soybean Cultivation in North Europe

“…However, during the last decade its growing area has expanded towards the north, due to climate change as well as plant breeding efforts. Therefore, soybean introduction has entered the applied research agenda in the North Europe region, aimed at expanding the boundary of its cultivation area in Europe [10].…”