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Root and shoot growth, seed composition, and yield components of no-till rainfed soybean under variable potassium

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Abstract

Spatial soil-K availability for no-till soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] has not been studied extensively. We characterize soybean growth- and yield-component and quantify root parameters as a function of soil depth in K-stratified soils with 1 M ammonium acetate extractable-K ranges 60–290 at 0–10 cm increment and 50–90 mg kg−1 at the 10–20 cm increment. Shoots and roots (five depth increments to 50 cm) were collected during development and grain at harvest during 2 years. Soil K at or above the critical level (104 mg K kg−1) increased early-season leaf area and root K-uptake rates early and late in reproductive development. Greater number of seeds plant−1 increased yield for soils with K near the critical level. Soil-K above the critical level increased luxury K-uptake without improving yield, seed-K concentration and accumulation, or seed oil and protein concentration. Greater root length density (>41% of the total) in surface soil coupled with previous results showing greater water content throughout the season in surface soil compared to deeper layers illustrates K stratification caused by no-till may enhance soybean K-uptake.

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Abbreviations

CGR:

crop growth rate

LAI:

leaf area index

LAR:

leaf area ratio

NAR:

net assimilation rate

RGR:

relative growth rate

SLW:

specific leaf weight

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was provided by: the Mary S. Rice Farm Funds; Mosaic Co.; Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan; International Plant Nutrition Institute-FAR; and United Soybean Board. In-kind support for a portion of the samples analyzed was provided by A&L Great Lakes Laboratories Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, N-315 Turner Hall, MC-046, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Fabián G. Fernández

  2. Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Sylvie M. Brouder, Jeffrey J. Volenec & Craig A. Beyrouty

  3. Advantage/International, 430 Main St, Racine, WI, 53403, USA

    Raymond Hoyum

Authors
  1. Fabián G. Fernández
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  2. Sylvie M. Brouder
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  3. Jeffrey J. Volenec
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  4. Craig A. Beyrouty
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  5. Raymond Hoyum
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Correspondence to Fabián G. Fernández.

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Responsible Editor: N. Jim Barrow.

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Fernández, F.G., Brouder, S.M., Volenec, J.J. et al. Root and shoot growth, seed composition, and yield components of no-till rainfed soybean under variable potassium. Plant Soil 322, 125–138 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-9900-9

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