Project title:
Improving the
profitability of soybean cropping through capturing more yield potential
A.
Dobermann, J.E. Specht, K.G. Cassman, H.S. Yang
Duration: 2003-2006
Funding: Nebraska Soybean Board
Contact:
Achim
Dobermann
University
of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department
of Agronomy and Horticulture
Lincoln,
68583-0915
(phone:
402-472-1501)
Project
description:
While efforts are underway to develop alternative agricultural systems with higher value crops, farm income for the majority of Nebraska farm families will continue to be closely associated with profitability from commodity soybean-corn production systems. To achieve this will require innovative fine-tuning of crop management based on quantitative understanding of the processes involved, which must then be applied to developing tools for practical use. Currently available growth simulation models (i) do not reliably estimate the genetic x environmental yield potential of a producer’s soybean crop, (ii) have mainly been calibrated for non-Nebraska conditions, and (iii) are difficult to use for practical decision-making by resarchers & consultants working with Nebraska Producers. Therefore, the goal of this project will be to develop practical decision support software for soybean management by synthesizing knowledge on yield potential, as determined by interactions of climate, genotype, crop nutrient requirements, and crop management. This requires high-quality field experimentation to obtain basic parameters for modeling growth and nutrient requirements of soybean.
Specific Objectives
· Quantify and understand the yield potential of soybean possible when planting date, plant density, and nutrient management are economically optimized.
· Assess the profitability and environmental impact of nutrient management designed to optimize the yield potential possible in Nebraska’s soybean-corn management systems.
· Develop a robust soybean growth model that can predict yield potential and the producer-managed inputs to achieve that potential at any given site in Nebraska.
Key
results:
Publications: