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Effect of Irrigation, Lime, and Fertility Treatments on the Yield and Chemical Composition of Soybeans¹

Data are available on the effects of surface applied plant nutrients on the yield, quality, oil, and protein contents of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed and on the chemical composition of the soybean leaves. Very little information is available, however, on the effects of irrigation and plow sole (30.5 cm) placement of plant nutrients on these same plant characteristics.

In order to determine the effects of irrigation and plow sole placement of P, K, lime, and micronutrients on the quality, yield, oil, and protein contents of soybean seeds and on the chemical composition of the leaves, a field experiment was conducted for 3 consecutive years. The experiment was located on Davidson clay loam (Rhodic Paleudults; clayey, kalonitic, thermic) at Orange, Va. Treatments included zero and 22.4 metric tons/ha lime, 336 and 672 kg/ha of EsMinel, and varying rates and ratios of P and K. The plowsole treatments were applied only when the experiment was initiated. The annual surface treatments on all plots have been 49 kg P/ha and 186 kgk/ha.

Soybean seed yields were increased each year with irrigation; the average annual increase being 514 kg/ha or 22%. Yields were unaffected by P and K treatments during the first 2 years, but in the third year, yields were lower where P and K had not been applied on the plow sole. Lime and micronutrients did not significantly affect soybean seed yields.

Irrigation increased the oil content each year but did not affect the protein content. Leaf P and K concentration were unaffected by irrigation but were affected by P and K applications. Leaf P concentration in 1972 and 1973 and K concentrations in 1972 were generally increased with increased rates of applied P and K respectively. Leaf Ca and Mg concentrations were increased with irrigation in 1971 but not in the other 2 years.

Irrigation had no real effect on the amounts of available P, K, Ca, and Mg in the soil. The total amounts of these elements increased with increased rate of application. Applied lime did not affect the acidity below the 30-cm depth.

Key Words: Oil content • Protein content • Seed size • Available plant nutrients

² Associate and assistant professors of agron., respectively.

Received for publication September 9, 1974.