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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #287340
Title: Soybean seed protein oil fatty acids sugars and minerals as affected by seeding rates and row spacing in the Midsouth USA

Author
item Bellaloui, Nacer
item Mengistu, Alemu
item WALKER, ERIC - University Of Tennessee
item Young, Lawrence

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/9/2014
Publication Date: 2/21/2014
Citation: Bellaloui, N., Mengistu, A., Walker, E.R., Young, L.D. 2014. Soybean seed protein oil fatty acids sugars and minerals as affected by seeding rates and row spacing in the Midsouth USA. Crop Science. 54:1782-1795.

Interpretive Summary: The effects of agricultural practices such as seeding rates and row spacing on seed composition (protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and minerals) in the soybean production system in the midsouthern USA have not been well investigated. The seed composition constituents determine soymeal and oil quality. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the effects of seeding rates and row spacing on seed protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and minerals. A two-year experiment conducted on an early maturing cultivar (P 93M90) and late maturing cultivar (V 52N3) at Jackson, TN, showed that protein, oleic acid, sugars, phosphorus, and boron concentrations in cultivar P 93M90 increased with seeding rates increase. However, after the maximum concentrations of these constituents were reached, a decrease was observed at the highest seeding rate. This trend was observed in 2006 and depended on row spacing, and in 2007, the opposite trend of protein and oleic acid concentrations was observed, i.e., protein and oleic decreased with seeding rates increase. The increase or decrease of seed composition constituents in each year depended on row spacing and may be due to temperature and drought stress differences during each growing season. This research showed that seeding rate and row spacing can alter seed constituents, and may help soybean breeders to develop new value-added soybeans for specific locations.

Technical Abstract: Research on the effects of seeding rates (SDR) and row spacing (RS) on soybean seed composition is almost non-existent. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of SDR and RS on soybean seed protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and minerals using two soybean cultivars, P 93M90 (early maturity, MG III) and V 52N3 (late maturity, MG V) tested in 2006 and 2007. Seeding rates for P 93M90 were 60,000, 80,000, 100,000, 120,000, 150,000, and 180,000 seeds ha-1, and for V 52N3 were 247,000, 296,400, 370,500, 444,600, 518,700, and 592,800 seeds ha-1. Row spacings were 38 (narrow) and 76 cm (wide). The result in cultivar P 93M90 showed that protein, oleic acid, sugars, phosphorus (P), and boron (B) concentrations increased with the increase of SDR. However, after the maximum concentrations of these constituents were reached, a decrease was observed at the highest SDR. This trend was mainly observed in 2006 and depended on RS. In 2007, the opposite trend of protein and oleic acid concentrations was observed, where the protein and oleic decreased with SDR increase. In cultivar V 52N3, results showed that protein concentration increased and oil concentration decreased with SDR increase in 2006 and 2007 on RS 38 and 76 cm. Oleic acid increased and linolenic acid decreased with SDR increase in 2006, and linolenic acid and stearic acid increased with SDR increase in 2007. The correlation between SDR and seed constituents was not consistent for most of the constituents. The different trends of protein and oleic concentrations between years may be due to temperature and drought stress differences. This research showed that SDR and RS can alter seed constituents.