Closing Soybean Yield Gaps via Improved Management: A Systems Approach

Three soybean research trials were conducted during the 2016 growing season. Two studies were conducted at Scandia, KS, (dryland and irrigated) and one at Topeka, KS (dryland). The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of different farming systems for closing soybean yield gaps. Each experiment consisted of five treatments: common practices (CP), comprehensive fertilization (CF), production intensity (PI), ecological intensification (CF + PI), and advanced plus (AD). The EI and AD treatments presented the maximum yields at both locations. Under irrigation conditions, yield gap was larger at Scandia relative to Topeka site. Across all three soybean experiments, CP presented the lowest yield. EI yielded 79 bu/a at Topeka, and 83 and 86 bu/a at Scandia dryland and irrigated scenarios, respectively