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Performance of soybean varieties differs according to yield class: a case study from Southern Brazil

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Abstract

Considering environmental conditions in the selection of soybean (Glycine max L.) varieties is a key strategy in ensuring high crop yield. Recently, the new technology of multi-hybrid planters has been making it more practical for farmers to plant different varieties together. However, there remains a gap in understanding how different varieties perform in terms of yield class; this knowledge is essential for technology adoption. The objectives of this study were to: (i) evaluate the agronomic performance of six soybean varieties at varying yield class (YC); (ii) quantify the economic return of within-field varieties arrangement; and (iii) propose guidelines for multi-variety soybean planting in Southern Brazil. The experimental design comprised a factorial split-plot set up in a randomized complete block design, with three YC [low (LY), medium (MY) and high yielding (HY)] and six varieties, replicated three times. The main findings were: (a) soybean variety performance differed according to YC; (b) the farmer-selected variety performed well for HY and MY; (c) varieties with high plant height (PH) should be placed in LY, where PH reduction and an increase in the number of pods and yield were recorded; (d) varieties with low PH should be placed in HY, avoiding excessive plant growth and yield penalty; (e) within-field variety arrangement increased yield by 2.10% and 11.50% and economic return by US$ 26 and 137 ha−1 for HY and LY, respectively. The results support the emergent concept of within-field multi-variety soybean planting in Southern Brazil.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES; process number 88881.132762/2016-01), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; process numbers 140508/2015-5, 140275/2016-9 and 141144/2017-3), and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia: Agricultura e Ambiente (PPGAAA) for providing financial support to this research. Thanks to Eliseu José Schaedler and Carlos Eduardo Dauve for providing data and experimental fields for this study and the LAPSul team for the technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Av., 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil

    G. M. Corassa

  2. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, BR 386, Km 40, Frederico Westphalen, RS, 98400-000, Brazil

    A. L. Santi, R. Gaviraghi & M. B. Bisognin

  3. Department of Soil, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Av., 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil

    T. J. C. Amado & G. B. Reimche

  4. Embrapa Trigo, BR-285, Km 294, Passo Fundo, RS, 99050-970, Brazil

    J. L. F. Pires

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  1. G. M. Corassa
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Corassa, G.M., Santi, A.L., Amado, T.J.C. et al. Performance of soybean varieties differs according to yield class: a case study from Southern Brazil. Precision Agric 20, 520–540 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-018-9595-0

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