Database Research Summaries2018 Role of population density in determining seed quality and yield of food-grade soybean varieties
Research Focus
The focus of this project is to optimize planting density for various food-grade soybean varieties for improved quality, yield and profitability.
Objectives
- Determine optimum plant population density for various food-grade soybean varieties in Michigan.
- Compare and contrast population density response of natto-, tofu-, and high oleic- type soybean varieties to commercial variety.
- Correlate quality parameters of food-grade soybean varieties to yield.
Develop management practices for new MSU soybean varieties.
Results
- Field experiments were planted at two locations during the 2018-growing season. Trials were arranged in a completely randomized block design and replicated four times at each location. Soybean varieties included: natto-type soybean, tofu-type soybean, conventional soybean, high oleic-type soybean, high oleic-type GMO variety, and a conventional GMO check. Six seeding rates were used.
- Some challenges were encountered in terms of identifying sites with conventional weed control and ideal conditions for planting and issues with planter settings to plant at this wide range of seeding rates. This resulted in different row spacing and variation in actual seeding rates between locations.
- Data collection to date includes plant populations counts, sweep netting for stink bug and in-season scouting for insect and disease pressure.
Importance
- This research will be important in providing information to current and potential Michigan growers who produce food-grade soybeans for a niche market.
- Focus in food grade soybeans is on seed quality, and this research will provide information on optimum seeding rates for various types of food-grade soybeans that would result in maximizing seed quality while maintaining higher seed yields for maximum returns.
- This research will provide agronomic information on non-GMO food-grade soybeans varieties released from MSU soybean breeding program supported by MSPC.
For more information about this research project, please visit the National Soybean Checkoff Research Database.
Funded in part by the soybean checkoff.
