Ohio Soybean Performance Trials 2017

Wayde Looker, 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. All sites had corn as the previous crop and received no tillage prior to soybean planting. Famer cooperators sprayed preemergence herbicides (varied by location). Basagran, Flex Star, First Rate, and Select Max. The C1 location was too wet for POST herbicide application and was hand-weeded.

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 2017 entries were submitted voluntarily by seed companies and the Ohio Seed Improvement Association. Entry fee charges were paid per entry and region. Trial data were not published for the N1 (Henry County) location due to extremely variable yield from wet field conditions in the spring followed by dry weather.

Test by Maturity and Type. Varieties are grouped, tested and analyzed by maturity (early and late). Conventional, Liberty Link, Roundup Ready, and Xtend varieties were tested in the same block to allow for head-to-head comparisons. Conventional herbicides were sprayed on all entries. Conventional, Liberty Link, Roundup Ready, and Xtend entries are statistically comparable within a maturity grouping (early or late). Use the links to the left to find varieties by region, maturity, and type.

PRODUCTION PRACTICES

Table 1: The 2017 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	Data	Clay	Silty clay loam	Clay loam	Silty clay	Silt loam
Soil pH	not	6.5	6.8	6.3	6.0	6.6
Soil Test P (ppm)	published	17	89	28	92	116
Soil Test K (ppm)		118	150	168	188	203
Plant date		19-May	7-Jun	17-May	30-May	16-May
Harvest date		19-Oct	21-Oct	2-Oct (early); 4-Oct (late)	17-Oct	16-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.

Lodging Score. There was limited lodging at all trial locations except S2 (Clinton County). Lodging was rated at the S2 location at harvest using the scale: 1 = nearly all plants erect, 2 = most plants leaning slightly, 3 = most plants leaning moderately (45° angle), 4 = most plants horizontal, 5 = 80% or more of the plants down on the soil surface.

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 14 percent and yields reported in bushels per acre at 13 percent moisture. Grain was not collected for two varieties and listed as “not tested.”

Protein, Oil 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.Grain was not collected for two varieties and listed as “not tested.”

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.

11/2017
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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.