Selecting IDC-tolerant soybeans doesn’t reduce yield, Manitoba study confirms
In Canada, Grain News reported that University of Manitoba research confirms that selecting soybean varieties with iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance will not hamper yield in unaffected areas of the field.
IDC is a common issue in calcareous, high-pH soils, where iron becomes chemically unavailable to the plant, according to the report.
The condition causes yellowing between the veins of young soybean leaves, typically appearing in patches and lasting from mid-June into July. While symptoms may only persist for a few weeks, early-season stress can reduce yield potential, it added.
To understand how IDC severity translates into yield loss, MacMillan collaborated with Manitoba Agriculture to analyze six years of data from single-row plots rated annually for IDC response near Winnipeg. Those plots were taken through to harvest to compare visual scores with final yield.
The analysis confirmed that yield declines as IDC scores increase in affected areas, according to the report.
MacMillan reported a yield loss of roughly 1.5 to 2.8 bushels per acre for every one-point increase in IDC score. In practical terms, a two-point difference between varieties could mean a three- to six-bushel swing in IDC-prone zones.
Category: Food & Agriculture
