| Crop | Soybean |
|---|---|
| Start Date | 2017 |
| End Date | 2021 |
| Principal Investigator | Mohr, Ramona, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada |
| MPSG Financial Support | $144,022 |
| Total Project Funding | $144,022 |
| Report | MPSG FINAL Extension Report_Enhancing Manitoba Soybean Yield and Quality_FINAL |
Research Objectives
- Determine the effect of seeding depth and seed attributes on soybean establishment, growth, yield and quality
- Determine the effect of residue management on temperature and moisture conditions early in the growing season, and on soybean stand, growth, yield and quality
- Determine the effect of temperature on early development of soybean as affected by seed factors (controlled environment)
Project Description
In Manitoba, cool, wet soils can create challenging conditions at planting leading to reduced emergence and early-season growth. Management practices that modify the micro-climate that soybeans are exposed to early in the growing season, and/or that give the crop a competitive advantage under stressful conditions, may help to create a set of conditions that are more conducive to soybean establishment, growth and yield and thereby potentially reduce production risk. Despite ongoing improvements in soybean genetics, soybean is inherently a cold-sensitive crop that can be prone to low-temperature damage in both the spring and the fall. As such, planting either too early or too late may pose a production risk.
Potential may exist to reduce the risk associated with frost and/or near-freezing conditions, and to enhance crop establishment and early-season growth, through management. Growing well-adapted cultivars suited to regional growing conditions is critical. However, residue management practices, seeding depth, seed size and seed quality can potentially influence early-season soil temperature and moisture conditions and the ability of the soybean crop to emerge and grow early in the season. A better understanding of the impact of these management practices on soybean growth, yield and quality under Manitoba conditions may help to refine management practices in order to reduce production risk and optimize soybean production in this province.