Ohio Soybean Performance Trials 2016

J.D. Bethel, Matthew Hankinson, John McCormick, 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. (Note: Emergence was poor at the S2 location due to soil crusting after planting.) All sites had corn as the previous crop and received no tillage prior to soybean planting. Famer cooperators sprayed preemergence herbicides (varied by location). Postemergence herbicides included: Select Max, Flexstar, Basagran, and First Rate.

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 2016 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 in the same block to allow for head-to-head comparisons. Xtend soybeans were planted in a separate block due to lack of EU approval at time of planting. Conventional herbicides were sprayed on all entries. Conventional, Liberty Link, and Roundup Ready entries are statistically comparable within a maturity range (early or late). Use the table below to find varieties by region, maturity, and type.

PRODUCTION PRACTICES

Table 1: The 2016 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	Sandy loam	Clay	Clay	Clay loam	Silt loam
Soil pH	6.0	5.8	7.1	6.4	6.0	6.6
Soil Test P (ppm)	25	62	59	35	121	53
Soil Test K (ppm)	171	72	183	140	287	144
Plant date	23-May	25-May	23-May	20-May	16-May	19-May
Harvest date	12-Oct	18-Oct	14-Oct	17-Oct	19-Oct	25-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 2016.

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.

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.

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.

11/2016
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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, Roger Rennekamp, Director, Ohio State University Extension.