Effect of row spacing, seeding rate and nitrogen fertilization on yield and yield components of soybean

Abstract

Summary Soybean crop management have not been studied much in Central Europe as compared with cereals. We assessed the effect of variety, row spacing, seeding rate and nitrogen (N) fertilization on yields and yield components of soybean in a two-year experiment in Gleisdorf, Austria. The varieties Lenka, Naya and Xonia were tested in row spacings of 13 cm, 38 cm and 76 cm with 30 germinable seeds m−2. Additionally, 60 seeds m−2 were tested at 13 cm row spacing, and 38 cm row spacing was additionally established with N fertilization. Faster soil coverage was obtained with a high seeding rate or narrower row spacings. First pod height differed between varieties and increased with higher seeding rate. Grain yield was not affected by treatments but yield components differed. The widest row spacing resulted in a lower plant density but more pods plant−1, grains plant−1, grains pod−1 (in one year) and a higher thousand kernel weight (TKW). The higher seeding rate resulted in a higher plant density but less pods plant−1 whereas grains pod−1 and TKW did not differ. N fertilization did not affect the grain yield. Correlation analysis showed a high adaptability of soybean to different seeding rates and row spacings through modulation of yield components.

High Seeding Rates and Low Soil Nitrogen Environments Optimize Weed Suppression and Profitability in Organic No-Till Planted Soybean

“…Common fertilizer application methods, like banding fertilizer along a crop row or injecting it into the soil near crops, can reduce weed biomass relative to broadcasting, which was used in this experiment (Di Tomaso, 1995;Blackshaw et al, 2004). Furthermore, while high soybean density suppressed weeds and enhanced yields, there is a greater risk of disease (Hwang et al, 2006;Chang et al, 2011;Swoboda et al, 2011) and crop lodging (Costa et al, 1980;Neugschwandtner et al, 2019) in dense crop stands. Understanding how different management decisions affect weed communities and competition, as well as crop productivity and crop susceptibility to other pests, will enable the development of robust weed management strategies for organic no-till systems.…”

Cover crops affect soybean yield components, but not grain quality

“…(2013) and Neugschwandtner et al. (2020) in different production areas, climate conditions, field management, and soybean maturity groups. The low yield components of soybean after ryegrass, kidney vetch, and corn cockle were induced by the reduced LAI as seen in experiments with low assimilation capacity by Board and Tan (1995) and Kantolic et al.…”

“…Additionally, Neugschwandtner et al. (2020) showed that grain yield remained independent of plant density, row spacing, or fertilization and concluded that the ability of soybean yield formation compensates for the applied management practice. In the current study, the TKM was not affected by cover crop treatments (except after corn cockle in 2017).…”

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Growth, Yield, and Nodulation in the Early Transition Period from Conventional Tillage to Conservation and No-Tillage Systems

“…The numerically greatest first pod height was seen for the conventional system (17.4 cm) and the numerically lowest for the no-tillage system (13.1 cm). Soybean seed loss during harvesting is a major problem, and this has been related to first pod height [50,51]. First pod height is affected by the genetic structure, cultivation processes, and precipitation or irrigation levels [52].…”