Environment- and Genotype-Dependent Irrigation Effect on Soybean Grain Yield and Grain Quality

Abstract

This four-year study with four elite soybean lines with different maturities was conducted to investigate the impact of deficit (a field water capacity, or FWC, of 60%) and full irrigation (an FWC of 80–100%) on soybean grain yield and grain quality (grain protein and oil contents and crude protein and oil yields), depending on the environmental conditions and genotype. Overall, the irrigation effect was positive for the grain yield and grain protein content but negative for the grain oil content. The differences between the full and deficit irrigation were only 2.9% for the grain yield, 2.8% for the crude protein yield and 1.7% for the crude oil yield. The results indicate that deficit irrigation could be the best option for optimizing soybean production in environments similar to the tested one. In such conditions, further rationalization of soybean production could be achieved by choosing the C2 genotype (0 maturity group), which, combined with deficit irrigation, had the highest grain, crude protein and crude oil yields.

Growth and yield responses of soybean according to subsurface fertigation

“…Additionally, as sprinklers or drip irrigation is installed on the soil surface, there is a disadvantage in that installation and removal must be repeated (Anapalli et al., 2022). Subsurface drip irrigation has been reported to be a useful irrigation and fertigation method for crops, increasing crop yield through high water and nutrient utilization efficiency (Aydinsakir et al., 2021; Gençoğlan et al., 2006; Matoša Kočar et al., 2023; Sandhu & Irmark, 2022). This irrigation technique is also noted to be effective at facilitating agricultural efforts and suppressing weed growth (Gao et al., 2014; Lee et al., 2018).…”

“…Proper soil moisture content during soybean cultivation increases the yield, protein, and oil content of soybean; however, when soil moisture content decreases, the protein and oil contents were reported to be affected or not affected depending on the research paper. However, there is a common opinion that the yield decreases (Matoša Kočar et al., 2023; Yelnazarkyzy et al., 2020). A short period of soil water deficiency has no effect on soybean yield during the vegetative growth stage, but a long period of soil water deficiency has a significant impact on soybean yield (Montoya et al., 2017; Oya et al., 2004).…”

“…Furthermore, it is well known that a lack of soil moisture during the reproductive growth stage, particularly the flowering period, as well as the pod‐enlargement and seed‐filling stages, has a significant impact on soybean yield (Andrade, 1995; Montoya et al., 2017). The water demand of soybean begins to increase at flowering (R1) and continues to rise until the pod‐development (R3) and full seed development (R6) stages (Matoša Kočar et al., 2023).…”

Early Sowing on Some Soybean Genotypes under Organic Farming Conditions

“…In Central and South European countries, such as Romania and Bulgaria, the major risk to soybean crops is the high water demand of crops; therefore, maintaining the proper moisture in the upper soil layer of 0–40 cm is strongly recommended for gaining yield and quality [ 29 , 30 ]. The critical period for water is from flowering to pod physiological maturity [ 31 ], which, in many areas of Romania, coincides with periods of drought and heat.…”