2019
Determining Soybean Yield Impact from Foliar Nutrient Feeding
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomicsSeed quality
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Rachel Vann, North Carolina State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
19-142
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
$16,300
Institution Funded:
North Carolina State University
$16,300
Brief Project Summary:

Many growers use foliar nutrients to feed their soybeans. What is unknown is how these products impact soybean yield in North Carolina across various soil types with drastically different nutrient supplying capacities. This project conducts trials to assess the value of foliar feeding soybeans across various regions in North Carolina. The work identifies the most effective foliar nutrient products for maximizing soybean yield, determines ideal application timing for various foliar nutrient products, conducts economic analyses on the value of these products for maximizing soybean yield and shares results.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Many soybean growers are interested in the use of foliar fertilizers, and multitudes of products are marketed to growers. Growers often use these products while applying fungicides and/or insecticides during early soybean reproductive development. However, with low profit margins, the effect of foliar fertilizers on soybean yield and economic return is important to understand. In 2019, 12 states evaluated various foliar fertilizer products applied at soybean growth stage R3 in 18environments. We evaluated these products in three NC environments in 2019. There was no impact on soybean yield from the application of any foliar fertilizer productat R3inour NC environments. This was consistent with results from >94% of US research locations in 2019. Our initial results indicate that with the current narrow profit margins for soybeans, growers can invest in something more impactful to yield than a foliar fertilizer application at R3.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.