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

• Published in: Precision agriculture 2019-06, Vol.20 (3), p.520-540
• Main Authors: Corassa, G. M., Santi, A. L., Amado, T. J. C., Reimche, G. B., Gaviraghi, R., Bisognin, M. B., Pires, J. L. F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Agronomy; Atmospheric Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Computer Science; Crop yield; Design of experiments; Economics; Environmental conditions; Experimental design; Farmers; Glycine max; Life Sciences; New technology; Physics; Plant growth; Planting; Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry; Soil Science & Conservation; Soybeans; Statistics for Engineering; Technology adoption; Technology utilization
• ISSN: 1385-2256; 1573-1618
• DOI: 10.1007/s11119-018-9595-0

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.