Fitting Plants Nutritionally to Soils. I. Soybeans

Brown, J. C.; Jones, W. E.

Fitting Plants Nutritionally to Soils. I. Soybeans

1977

Brown, J. C. | Jones, W. E.

Plant species and varieties within species differ in their response to mineral stresses and toxicities. To achieve maximum yields, the plant and the soil must be compatible. In the past, the soil has been changed to fit the plant. In this study, we consider changing the plant to fit the soil, recognizing that plant species and varieties within species have specific nutrient requirements. Ten soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) varieties, representing the germplasm currently used in soybean production in the United States, were subjected to Fe, Zn, and Cu stresses; and Mn and Al toxicities to determine their nutrient requirements or tolerance to mineral elements. Seven soils, which had produced the above nutrient stresses and toxicities in other crops, were used in this study. The soybean varieties showed a differential response to Fe stress by developing severe (‘Forrest’), moderate (‘Hodgson’), or no Fe chlorosis (‘Bragg’). Leaves dropped from Forrest and Bragg soybeans as they developed severe Mn toxicity symptoms. In contrast, ‘Lee’ soybean developed only slight Mn toxicity symptoms. Most soybean varieties grew well when subjected to Zn and Cu stresses, or when grown on Al-toxic soil. Care should be taken to select the proper soybean variety to be grown on soils where Fe stress or Mn toxicity may be a problem.

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