Three soybean research trials were conducted during the 2016 growing season. Two studies were conducted at Scandia, KS, (dryland and irrigated) and one at Topeka, KS (dryland). The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of different farming systems for closing soybean yield gaps. Each experiment consisted of five treatments: common practices (CP), comprehensive fertilization (CF), production intensity (PI), ecological intensification (CF + PI), and advanced plus (AD). The EI and AD treatments presented the maximum yields at both locations. Under irrigation conditions, yield gap was larger at Scandia relative to Topeka site. Across all three soybean experiments, CP presented the lowest yield. EI yielded 79 bu/a at Topeka, and 83 and 86 bu/a at Scandia dryland and irrigated scenarios, respectively

Balboa, G. R.

Ciampitti, I. A.

Kansas State University

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports Volume 3 Issue 6 Kansas Field Research Article 16 2017 Closing Soybean Yield Gaps via Improved Management: A Systems Approach G. R. Balboa Kansas State University, balboa@ksu.edu I. A. Ciampitti Kansas State University, ciampitti@ksu.edu This report is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. Copyright 2017 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Follow this and additional works at: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr  Part of the Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Balboa, G. R. and Ciampitti, I. A. (2017) "Closing Soybean Yield Gaps via Improved Management: A Systems Approach," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 3: Iss. 6. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7433 Closing Soybean Yield Gaps via Improved Management: A Systems Approach Abstract Three soybean research trials were conducted during the 2016 growing season. Two studies were conducted at Scandia, KS, (dryland and irrigated) and one at Topeka, KS (dryland). The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of different farming systems for closing soybean yield gaps. Each experiment consisted of five treatments: common practices (CP), comprehensive fertilization (CF), production intensity (PI), ecological intensification (CF + PI), and advanced plus (AD). The EI and AD treatments presented the maximum yields at both locations. Under irrigation conditions, yield gap was larger at Scandia relative to Topeka site. Across all three soybean experiments, CP presented the lowest yield. EI yielded 79 bu/a at Topeka, and 83 and 86 bu/a at Scandia dryland and irrigated scenarios, respectively. Keywords soybean, yield gaps, cropping system Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Cover Page Footnote Thanks to the Kansas State University Crops Production Team for the valuable help in collecting and processing all the field data during 2016 growing season. This study was supported by the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI, Project GBL 62), K-State Research and Extension and the Fulbright Program (partially covering G.R. Balboa’s stipend). This soybean is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol3/iss6/16 Kansas Field Research 2017Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service1Closing Soybean Yield Gaps via Improved Management: A Systems ApproachG.R. Balboa and I.A. CiampittiSummaryThree soybean research trials were conducted during the 2016 growing season. Two studies were conducted at Scandia, KS, (dryland and irrigated) and one at Topeka, KS (dryland). The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of different farming systems for closing soybean yield gaps. Each experiment consisted of five treat-ments: common practices (CP), comprehensive fertilization (CF), production intensity (PI), ecological intensification (CF + PI), and advanced plus (AD). The EI and AD treatments presented the maximum yields at both locations. Under irrigation condi-tions, yield gap was larger at Scandia relative to Topeka site. Across all three soybean experiments, CP presented the lowest yield. EI yielded 79 bu/a at Topeka, and 83 and 86 bu/a at Scandia dryland and irrigated scenarios, respectively.IntroductionCrop management practices (such as row spacing, planting date, and nutrient applica-tion) and their interactions with the environment (soil + weather) have a direct impact in closing yield gaps. By choosing different combinations of practices, farmers can modi-fy the growing conditions. Thus, after considering the contribution from the genetics and the environment, on-farm yield is primarily influenced by farmers’ decisions, the main components of which are agronomic practices. Crop management practices are often specific to the environment, hybrid/variety, and/or yield level. Each farmer needs to find the appropriate management practices that can help them to increase yields and profits. Increasing seeding rates and narrowing rows are two common intensification practices in high-yielding soybean systems.ProceduresThree soybean research trials were conducted during the 2016 growing season. Two studies were located at the North Central Kansas (NCK) experiment fields (Scandia, KS), and one at the Kansas River Valley (KRV) experimental fields (Topeka, KS). At Scandia, one experiment was conducted under dryland and one under irrigated condi-tions. Soybean from maturity group 4 (MG 4) was planted on May 6 at Scandia and June 1 at Topeka. Each experiment consisted of 5 treatments with five replications in a completely randomized block design: 1) common practices (CP), (110,000 seeds/a + no-inoculation + no-nutrient application + 30-in. row spacing); 2) comprehensive fertilization (CF), (110,000 seeds/a + inoculation + nutrient application + 30-in. row spacing); 3) production intensity (PI), increasing productivity via narrowing rows and Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service2Kansas Field Research 2017increasing seeding rate (174,000 seeds/a + inoculation + no-nutrient application +  15-in. row spacing); 4) ecological intensification (CF + PI; 174,000 seeds/a + inocula-tion + nutrient application + 15-in. row spacing + micronutrients + fungicides); and 5) advanced plus (AD), or increasing input applications (174,000 seeds/a + inoculation + nutrient application + 15-in. row spacing + double application of micronutrients and fungicides). Mes SZ and Aspire (Mosaic company) product rates for an irrigated envi-ronment were 108 and 300 lb/a, with 77 and 215 lb/a for dryland scenario, respectively. The rates per nutrients in lb/a (N-P2O5-K2O-S-Zn-B) were 13-43-180-11-1Zn-1.5B and 9-31-129-8-0.75Zn-1B for irrigated and dryland.ResultsWeather ConditionsWeather conditions for the growing season and historical information are shown in Figure 1 for NCK Scandia site and Figure 2 for KRV Topeka location (Mesonet, Kan-sas State University). The total amount of precipitation received during the growing season was 23 inches for the Scandia site and 24 inches for Topeka. The total amount of water provided to the irrigated condition at NCK Scandia was 6.3 inches (6/23, 7/15, 7/21, 7/29, and 8/10). Temperatures ranged in normal values except for a few days that could present some heat stress for the soybeans. Soil Test and Phenological Information Soil samples were collected before planting to characterize each experimental site. Soil test results are shown in Table 1. The previous crop was corn at all locations. The soy-bean variety planted (MG 4), the date for phenological stages, and the harvest date are shown in Table 2.North Central Kansas, Scandia YieldsAt the NCK Scandia fields, average yield for the dryland condition was 75 bu/a, rang-ing from 63 to 85 bu/a (Figure 3). The irrigated condition yielded on average 73 bu/a. The total in-season precipitation can largely explain the lack of yield differential be-tween dryland and irrigated conditions. Under dryland and irrigated conditions differ-ences in yield were statistically significant (P < 0.05). For the dryland environment, the CF treatment yielded 7 bu/a more than the CP, but yields did not statistically differ. A balanced nutrition program and intensifying production (EI) in dryland allowed increasing yield 28% over the CP treatment (Figure 3). Treatments EI and AD showed the highest yields under both water environments. Maximum yield was recorded for the AD treatment under irrigation, averaging 90 bu/a. Yield gaps were 34 bu/a under irrigation and 22 bu/a under dryland (calculated as AD minus CP) (Figure 3). The PI treatment presented comparable soybean yields relative to the CF combination.Kansas River Valley, Topeka Yields At KRV Topeka site, average yield was 74 bu/a (Figure 4). Common practices (CP) and intensifying production without a balanced nutrition (PI) presented the lowest yield, averaging 72 bu/a. Soybean yields for CF, EI, and AD did not statistically differ, presenting an average of 76 bu/a. The yield gap in this environment was only 9 bu/a (calculated as the difference between EI-79 bu/a-minus PI-70 bu/a-maximum and minimum soybean yields for this site, respectively). Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service3Kansas Field Research 2017Acknowledgments Thanks to the Kansas State University Crops Production Team for the valuable help in collecting and processing all the field data during 2016 growing season. This study was supported by the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI, Project GBL 62), K-State Research and Extension and the Fulbright Program (partially covering G.R. Balboa’s stipend). Table 1. Soil characterization before planting timeSoybean studies Organic matter pH Phosphorus% ppmNCK Scandia irrigated 2.2 6.2 11NCK Scandia dryland 2.3 5.4 7.4KRV Topeka dryland 2.3 5.8 11.3NCK = North Central Kansas.KRV = Kansas River Valley.Table 2. Phenological data for the 2016 growing season for soybeanPhenological dataNorth Central Kansas, ScandiaKansas River Valley,  TopekaSoybean variety P39T67R (MG 4.0) P39T67R (MG 4.0)Planting date 05/06/2016 06/01/2016Emergence date (VE) 05/12/2016 06/07/2016Flowering (R1) 07/12/2016 07/20/2016Maturity 09/26/2016 10/3/2016Harvest date 10/18/2016 10/18/2016Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service4Kansas Field Research 20174036342824201612840Solar radiation, MJ/m2360330270210120900a2406.05.55.04.54.03.53.02.52.01.51.00.50Rainfall, in.1009080706050403020100Temperature, °Fc6030 180150 300Soybean2016Bars normal360330270210120900 2406030 180150 300360330270210120900 2406030 180150 300Day of the year2016Bars normalb2016 Max2016 MinBars normalSoybean19 in.growing season6.3 in. IrrigationFigure 1. a) Daily solar radiation; b) Daily precipitation; and c) Daily maximum and minimum temperatures all for 2016 season and historical; North Central Kansas, Scandia.Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service5Kansas Field Research 20174036342824201612840Solar radiation, MJ/m2360330270210120900a2406.05.55.04.54.03.53.02.52.01.51.00.50Rainfall, in.1009080706050403020100Temperature, °Fc6030 180150 300Soybean2016Bars normal360330270210120900 2406030 180150 300360330270210120900 2406030 180150 300Day of the year2016Bars normalb2016 Max2016 MinBars normalSoybean24 in.growing seasonFigure 2. a) Daily solar radiation; b) Daily precipitation; and c) Daily maximum and minimum temperatures all for 2016 season and historical; Kansas River Valley, Topeka.Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service6Kansas Field Research 2017CP56c63BCF66b70BEI86a83AAD90a85A1009080706050403020100Grain yield, bu/aDrylandIrrigatedPI69b73ATreatmentFigure 3. Soybean yield by treatment for dryland and irrigated conditions during the  2016 growing season, North Central Kansas, Scandia. Different letter shows statistical  differences (P < 0.05). CP = Common practices, CF = comprehensive fertilization,  PI = production intensification, EI = ecological intensification (CF+PI), AD = advanced plus. Lines in bars indicate standard deviation.CP73BCF74AEI79AAD76A1009080706050403020100Grain yield, bu/aPI70BTreatmentFigure 4. Soybean yield by treatment during the 2016 growing season, Kansas River Valley, Topeka. Different letter shows statistical differences (P < 0.05). CP = Common practices, CF = comprehensive fertilization, PI = production intensification,  EI = ecological intensification (CF+PI), AD = advanced plus. Lines in bars indicate stan-dard deviation.

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