Ohio Soybean Performance Trials 2015

J.D. Bethel, Chris D. Kroon Van Diest, John McCormick, Matthew Hankinson and Laura Lindsey
Dept. of Horticulture & Crop Science
Ohio State University Extension and OARDC
The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Science

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the Ohio Soybean Performance Trials is to evaluate soybean varieties for yield and other agronomic characteristics. This evaluation gives soybean producers comparative information for selecting the best varieties for their unique production systems.

FIELD PLOT DESIGN

The entries for each test site were planted in a randomized complete-block design. Each entry was replicated four times and planted in plots 28 ft. long and 5 ft. wide containing four rows seeded at 15-inch row width. Seeding rate was 150,000 seeds per acre. All sites had corn as the previous crop. All sites were no-tillage except the C2 (Marion Co.) location which was chisel plowed in the fall and field cultivated in the spring. Famer cooperators sprayed preemergence herbicides (varied by location). Postemergence herbicides included: Select, Flexstar, Basagran, and First Rate. The C1 location (Mercer Co.) was hand-weeded due to above average rainfall in June.

METHOD OF CONDUCTING TRIALS

Entries in Trials. Performance of entries in The Ohio Soybean Performance Trials are published if seed will be available to Ohio soybean producers for the following planting season. All 2015 entries were submitted voluntarily by seed companies and the Ohio Seed Improvement Association. Entry fee charges were paid per entry and region.

Test by Maturity. Varieties are grouped, tested and analyzed by maturity (early and late). Conventional, Liberty Link, and Roundup Ready varieties were tested together and sprayed with conventional herbicides to allow for head-to-head comparisons. Conventional, Liberty Link, and Roundup Ready entries are statistically comparable within a maturity range (early or late).

LSD. A Least Significant Difference (LSD) for yield was computed for each maturity group. LSD's are reported in bushels per acre at 13 percent moisture. Yields of two varieties within a maturity group are significantly different 90% of the time if their yields differ by more than the LSD value shown for that maturity group. A double asterisk (**) is used to denote the variety with the highest yield within a region and maturity grouping. A single asterisk (*) is used to denote varieties with yield not statistically different than the highest yielding variety.

PRODUCTION PRACTICES

Table 1: The 2015 Ohio Soybean Performance Trials, Site Descriptions
	N1	N2	C1	C2	S1	S2
	Henry Co.	Sandusky Co.	Mercer Co.	Marion Co.	Preble Co.	Clinton Co.
Soil texture	Clay loam	Clay loam	Clay loam	Clay loam	Clay loam	Silt loam
Soil pH	6.0	6.3	6.7	6.2	6.0	6.1
Soil Test P (ppm)	49	34	49	38	70	94
Soil Test K (ppm)	285	185	160	198	148	190
Plant date	23-May	22-May	21-May	22-May	15-May	13-May
Harvest date	12-Oct	19-Oct	8-Oct	13-Oct	7-Oct	11-Oct

MEASUREMENTS AND RECORDS

Relative maturity. Relative maturity is a rating designed to account for all of the factors that affect maturity date and includes variety, planting date, weather, latitude and disease. Maturity is defined as the “95% brown pods” stage. A variety with a Relative Maturity rating of 3.5 will reach the 95% brown pod stage 5 days later than a variety with a rating of 3.0. Relative maturity was submitted by seed companies.

Plant height. Plant height was measured as a group at physiological maturity

Seed size. Seed size is reported as number of seeds per pound.

Yield. Each soybean variety was harvested when the moisture content was between 8 and 12 percent and yields reported in bushels per acre at 13 percent moisture.

Lodging score. There was no lodging in 2015.

Protein, Oil, and Fiber Percentage. Analysis was determined by near infrared transmittance technology. The test was performed using a Tecator Infratec whole grain analyzer calibrated with the Composition Systems Calibration developed at Iowa State University and is reported at 13 percent moisture.

DATA USE. Inclusion of entries in the Ohio Soybean Performance Trials does not constitute an endorsement of a particular entry by the Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, or Ohio State University Extension.

11/2015
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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.