Farm profits are declining with increasing input costs and natural climatic issues associated with both droughts and excessive precipitation events. The ability of growers across NC to manage water stress varies depending on their geographic regions, micro-climates, soil types, infrastructure, and soybean genetics. Tools to mitigate these water losses and maintain profits are limited to variety selection (genetics), tillage, and drainage and irrigation systems. Investment and use of soil water management infrastructure to control crop moisture can only be successful with proper management and good decision-making, coupled with an excellent understanding of the agronomic potential of the varieties that are being planted. Unfortunately, varieties are constantly changing; in most cases, they are no longer commercially available after 2 to 3 years due to new genetics being introduced. This makes the quick evaluation of yield potential for new varieties under different levels of water stress highly important for growers to maximize profits at the farm level. This research and extension project will evaluate the potential yield of various new soybean varieties from multiple maturity groups to water stress extremes. In addition, the project will evaluate the final nutrient removal needs for varieties under multiple soil water scenarios. Excessive soil water, deficit soil water, and adequate soil water conditions will be considered. The ultimate goal is to provide the best data for variety placement given a producer’s ability to manage water while providing specific data on nutrient requirements given specific climate induced stress. This will promote better production economics and profits to help close the yield gap for NC producers.

The primary goals of this research and extension project is to evaluate the latest soybean varieties to various degrees of soil water stress. Specific objectives are:
1. Timely evaluation of the yield response of the newest varieties to multiple degrees of soil water stresses.
2. Improve in season fertilizer recommendations based on climate induced water stress.
3. Evaluate the differences in final nutrient content of the harvested seed to potentially lower fertilizer input cost and close the soybean yield gap associated with fertility and water.
4. Provide extension data for placement of specific variety given a grower’s water management capabilities.

The expected end product is to provide data necessary to timely evaluate the newest soybean varieties’ genetic response to soil water stress. This will promote better placement of varieties given a producers ability to manage water stress. The ultimate product is higher returns to the grower by selecting the proper variety for locations and potential climatic controlled water stress. This project will provide a better understanding of in season fertility needs for specific varieties given soil water stress observed at the farm level. This will enhance fertilizer use and lower fertilize expense by tailoring application based on climatic conditions and variety nutrient needs. Annual data on yields by variety and water scheme will be made available by the water resiliency specialist and presented at the annual winter meetings and various extension outlets and field days.
The graduate student Dana Mugisa will publish her work in appropriate scientific journals.

Determining the right crop genetics (variety) for anticipated seasonal crop water stress will improve final crop yield and profit.