Ohio State University Research/Extension Bulletin

Agronomic Crops Team On-Farm Research Projects 1997

Special Circular 160-98


SOYBEAN

Yield Comparisons of Soybeans Treated with Rhizobium Inoculants

Objective

Determine if soybeans inoculated with rhizobium can increase yield over native rhizobium populations under three different pH levels.

Cooperator Hoytville Branch, OARDC
County of Site: Wood
Nearest Town: Custer
Major Soil Type: Hoytville
Drainage: Tile
Tillage: No-till
Previous Crop: Wheat
Herbicides: Roundup
Plant Population: 175,000
Variety: Pioneer 9294 Roundup Ready
Planting Date: 6/12/97
Harvest Date: 9/26/97

Materials and Methods

Soybeans were established on a Hoytville soil with three different pH levels, 5.2 to 5.3, 5.8 to 6.0, and 6.4 to 6.6 in the spring of 1997. The beans were treated with humus rhizobium inoculants of either USDA brand or HiStick Brand. An untreated check was included. The inoculum treatments were replicated eight times and the pH treatments were replicated four times. Individual inoculum plots were 10' x 40' in size.

Results

Treatment Yield (bu/A)
pH 5.2 to 5.3 50.3
pH 5.8 to 6.0 49.6
pH 6.4 to 6.6 49.2
USDA inoculant 48.9
HiStick inoculant 50.0
Check 50.2
LSD (p=.05) for pH treatments = 1.51 bu/A
LSD (p=.05) for inoculant treatments = .77 bu/A

Summary and Notes

According to the results of this trial, there were no significant differences among the pH levels on the yield of soybean variety Pioneer 9294 Roundup Ready. There were significant differences among inoculant types with the USDA inoculant yielding lower than the other inoculant and the check treatment. There was no significant interaction (pH x inoculant) effect on soybean yield. The coefficient of variation (c.v.) for whole plots (pH) was 2.7% and the c.v. for split plots (inoculants) was 2.6%.

For additional information, contact:


Greg LaBarge
Ohio State University Extension - Fulton County
135 Courthouse Plaza
Wauseon, OH 43567
419-337-9210
labarge.1@osu.edu


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