Winners of the Brazilian soybean yield contest: climatic, soil, management, and economic factors

Authors: BARBOSA, JULIERME - Universidade Federal De Santa Catarina (UFSC); MOTTA, ANTONIO - Universidade Federal Do Parana; POGGERE, GIOVANA - Federal University Of Technology - Parana; Prior, Stephen

Submitted to: European Journal of Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2025
Publication Date: 12/29/2025
Citation: Barbosa, J.Z., Motta, A.C., Poggere, G., Prior, S.A. 2025. Winners of the Brazilian soybean yield contest: climatic, soil, management, and economic factors. Oil Crop Science. 10(4):294-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocsci.2025.07.003.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocsci.2025.07.003

Interpretive Summary: Soybean yield contests can generate useful information regarding cultivation techniques used for this important commodity. Data evaluated for two classes (high yield and very high yield) included: grain yield, rainfall, climatic and agronomic efficiency, soil chemical and physical attributes, management strategies, and economic indicators. Climate, soil, and management factors clearly impacted yields. Adequate and well-distributed rainfall led to high climatic efficiency, and management efficiency was also high for winners. Improved soil conditions required strategies such as liming, gypsum application, adequate fertilization, deep initial tillage, no-tillage, and crop rotation. Complementing soil fertilization, nutrient (particularly micronutrients) supply by seed and foliar treatment was widely used. Low N fertilizer use was due to seed inoculation with rhizobium, while plant growth promotion also used co-inoculation with other microorganisms. The very high yield class reported higher soil K, Ca, and Mg, more frequent use of dolomitic lime, greater soil structural quality, and greater use of biostimulants via foliar application. Economic gains were tied to intensive use of available technologies and conservation practices. Findings could benefit other major soybean production regions worldwide.

Technical Abstract: Soybean yield contests have been generating useful information regarding the cultivation of this important crop commodity. The aim of this study was to analyze environmental, management, and economic variables associated with soybean yield contest winners in Brazil. Data from ten summer soybean harvests included grain yield, rainfall, climatic and agronomic efficiency, soil chemical and physical attributes, management strategies, and economic indicators. Two grain yield classes were created: 1) high yield (4967–6839 kg ha-1) and 2) very high yield (6859–8945 kg ha-1). Enhanced soybean yield was due to adequate rainfall that led to high climatic efficiency (>76%) and high agronomic efficiency; average values ranged between 77% (high yield class) and 85% (very high yield class). Correction and maintenance of soil chemical and physical quality (surface and subsurface) were notable; this involved the use of amendments (lime, gypsum, and fertilizer), initial deep tillage, no-tillage systems, and crop rotations. Alternative fertilization (seeds and foliar) and microbial co-inoculation were also widely used. Furthermore, winners in the very high yield class reported higher soil K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ levels, more frequent use of dolomitic limestone, greater soil structural quality, and greater use of biostimulants (via foliar spray) that led to higher net revenue. While high climatic efficiency was fundamental for success, results indicated that intensive integration of technologies with conservation practices for better soil and crop management are necessary to maximize soybean yield and economic gains.