CULTURAL PRACTICES TO MINIMIZE SOIL-RELATED CONSTRAINTS TO SOYBEAN AND SMALL GRAIN PRODUCTION IN NORTH DAKOTA

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0226434
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2011
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2016
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
1310 BOLLEY DR
FARGO,ND 58105-5750

Performing Department
School of Natural Resource Sciences

Non Technical Summary
Justification: 1. Iron deficiency chlorosis is the most significant soil-related constraint to soybean production on poorly-drained soils of North Dakota. Soybeans often grow poorly on soils with CaCO3 in the topsoil, due to the inability of the plants to acquire iron from the soil, and related problems associated with inefficient transport of iron within the plant. It has been estimated that this disorder causes soybean yield losses valued $120,000,000 per year in the North Central USA. The anticipated practical outcome of this objective is the identification of cultural practices that help farmers reduce the severity of chlorosis on their fields. 2. Nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies are the most common nutrient deficiencies affecting wheat in North Dakota. We have observed significant variation in the phosphorus requirements of different wheat varieties. We believe that we have developed accurate greenhouse screening procedures for this trait. Even small savings would add up. North Dakota farmers apply an average of 35-40 lb/A of P2O5 equivalent to wheat, according to USDA statistics. If this value could be reduced by even 10 lb P2O5/A per year, the savings to North Dakota farmers would be significant. More importantly, if more phosphorus-efficient varieties were developed, the variation of yield due to inherent phosphorus variability across a field would be reduced. Also, with less phosphorus being applied, less phosphorus would be reach surface waters, providing an environmental benefit. 3. West of the Red River Valley, problems associated with poorly-drained soils, such as iron deficiency chlorosis, are much less common. Drought stress is the most common soil-related constraint to soybean production. A whole-season evapotranspiration of about 18 inches is possible with a vigorous, well-watered soybean crop. However, the supply of water, growing season precipitation plus stored soil water at the beginning of the growing season, usually falls short of that amount on well-drained soils. One cultural practice that has not been evaluated in this region is the use of antitranspirants, compounds that induce the plant to use less water. Reducing water use earlier in the season, in order to preserve stored soil water for later in the season, could help with the production of soybeans in central North Dakota. The use of antitranspirants has not been widely studied in the USA, but has been shown to increase yield of other crops in other countries under water-limiting conditions. A comprehensive screening of established antitranspirants in the greenhouse would be an inexpensive first step in the evaluation of this technology. It is likely that cultural practices for the mitigation of the effects of drought will be of intense interest in the next 10 years. The major biotech seed companies (Monsanto, Pioneer, etc.) are beginning to promise huge gains in drought resistance in corn, and this will likely lead to a broader interest in all aspects of this topic.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	1820	2061	40%
102	1541	2061	40%
111	1820	2061	20%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water;

Subject Of Investigation
1541 - Hard red spring wheat; 1820 - Soybean;

Field Of Science
2061 - Pedology;

Keywords

soybean

wheat

iron

chlorosis

idc

phosphorus

drought

antitranspirant

Goals / Objectives
1. Development and evaluation of cultural practices that mitigate yield and quality losses due to iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans, specifically by variety selection and fertilizer evaluation. 2. Development and evaluation of cultural practices that reduce phosphorus requirement in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), specifically by identifying varieties with reduced P fertilizer requirement. 3. To conduct preliminary studies related to drought stress mitigation in soybeans, through the evaluation of antitranspirants.

Project Methods
1. Development and evaluation of cultural practices that mitigate yield and quality losses due to iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans. Screening studies consist of growing varieties in hill plots with 3 plants per hill. The severity of IDC is rated visually at the 2-3 trifoliolate and 5-6 trifoliolate stage. These studies are laid out in a randomized complete block design, typically with four replicates and five sites per year. Analysis of variance is the general statistical analysis employed. "Standard" varieties, with a known level of chlorosis resistance are included. The search for a new iron fertilizers will be conducted by incubation and greenhouse methods. Typically, soil is incubated with 10 ppm of Fe from the experimental Fe fertilizers, and the residual solubility determined by extraction and determination by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Greenhouse studies compare crop response of test fertilizers to crop response to standard materials like FeEDDHA and ferrous sulfate. 2. Development and evaluation of cultural practices that reduce phosphorus requirement in spring wheat. Wheat will be grown in greenhouse pots containing a sand-soil mixture amended with adequate nutrients except for phosphorus. The phosphorus is added at rates ranging from 0 to 30 mg/kg P, to give a full response curve. Wheat varieties are grown at these differing levels of phosphorus in order to give a complete response function from extreme phosphorus deficiency to adequate phosphorus. The minimum rate of phosphorus needed to give ~90% initiation of T1 and T2 tillers is estimated. The varieties with the lowest and highest phosphorus requirement are thus identified. 3. To conduct preliminary studies related to drought stress mitigation in soybeans. Soybeans will be grown under greenhouse conditions until the 2nd trifoliolate stage, when they are sprayed with potential antitranspirants. The antitranspirants are dissolved or suspended in water, and sprayed on the plant leaves. The daily water use is then documented for 1-2 weeks after spraying. Water use is determined by weighing the pots every day before bringing the pots back to field capacity.

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:There are two primary targets for this research. The first target audience for this research are farmers, and those who advise farmers on cultural practices. The second target audience is the scientific community involved with wheat and soybean production. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has provided training and mentoring to two graduate students (one from NDSU, and one from the Kazakh National Agrarian University) with regards to methods of determining the response of wheat to phosphorus nutrition. This project has also provided training and mentoring to an undergraduate student involved with iron deficiency chlorosis of soybeans. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In the past year, three educational press releases were made, via the NDSU Crop and Pest report, on wheat nutrition and iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans, one of which was reprinted for a regional farm magazine. An article on our work with iron deficiency was prepared, and published in the North Dakota Soybean Grower Magazine. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. A major study was conducted in 2016, comparing four different iron chelate sources. This study compared a high ortho-ortho FeEDDHA product, a low ortho-ortho FeEDDHA product, a FeEDDHSA product, and FeHBED. The latter two sources are new in the marketplace in North Dakota. A "soil stability" test predicted that the high ortho-ortho FeEDDHA product and the FeHBED product would out-perform the other two materials. Two 'crops' of soybeans were grown to the 4th trifoliolate stage. All four sources of iron successfully corrected Fe deficiency in the first crop, but the two higher-quality materials (high ortho-ortho FeEDDHA and FeHBED) gave a better response with regards to leaf chlorophyll and growth, than the two lower-quality materials (low ortho-ortho FeEDDHA and FeEDDHSA). Thus, our simple "soil stability" test was shown to be able to separate higher-quality iron fertilizers from lower-quality materials. 2. Our work to identify spring wheat varieties with reduced phosphorus requirement continues, and has been very successful. In 2016, we evaluated about 40 current and soon-to-be-released varieties for their relative P requirements. Preliminary data indicates that current and soon-to-be-released spring wheat varieties do differ greatly in the amount of P needed for full growth and tillering. This project will be completed in 2017. It is important to not only identify varieties with a relatively low P requirement, it is also important to identify varieties with a relatively high P requirement, so that farmers can take steps to supply adequate P for these varieties. 3. Our greenhouse phase of this research, to evaluate antitranspirants for soybeans, was completed in the summer of 2014. We successfully identifed several compounds that, when sprayed on soybean leaves, induced the plants to use less water. The field phase of this research begins in 2017, where compounds found to be effective in 2014 will be tested in the field.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: A.M. Fortuna and R. Jay Goos. Links among soil forming factors, land management and soil health: A case study and demonstration for use in the classroom and field. Poster presentation, American Society of Agronomy meetings, 14 November, Phoenix, AZ.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: S. Forster, R. J. Goos, J. M. Teboh, C. Augustin, S. Zilahi-Sebess, E. Aberle, and B. Henson. Correlating a ureide tissue test for soybean with field inoculation studies. Poster presentation, American Society of Agronomy meetings, 9 November, Phoenix, AZ.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Goos, R. Jay and Hannah Ohm. Evaluation of four iron sources for the control of iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans. North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference, 9 November, 2016, Des Moines, IA.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is wheat and soybean farmers, agronomists who advise farmers, Extension personnel who advise farmers, and the scientific community involved with wheat and soybean farmers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The work under Objective 2 is being done, in part, by a graduate student. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our work has been presented in research reports of the North Dakota Soybean Council, which is distributed widely to soybean farmers in the state. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The work on phosphorus and wheat varieties continues for another year, at least. A major iron fertilizer evaluation experiment is planned for 2016, as two new iron fertilizers are being introduced into the marketplace in North Dakota, FeEDDHSA and FeHBED. These are not new compounds, but they are new to North Dakota, and little literature exists comparing FeEDDHA, FeEDDHSA, and FeHBED.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. Previously, we developed a simple soil incubation test, for the evaluation of the quality of iron fertilizers, especially FeEDDHA. The quality of FeEDDHA varies greatly in the marketplace. We are evaluating ~60 commercial FeEDDHA products, in collaboration with a partner in Spain. In general, our soil incubation test gives a good estimate of the fertilizer value of commercial FeEDDHA products. Objective 2. Considerable progress was made on this objective. Over 40 historic wheat varieties (ca. 1910-1990) were screened for phosphorus fertilizer requirement. There was about a 5-fold difference between the P requirement for adequate early development (defined as 90% initiation of T1 and T2 tillers) between the most and least phosphorus-efficient varieties. We are now evaluating ~40 current and soon to be released varieties for the same trait. In a related study, we are working with a rhizosphere scientist from the University of Kentucky, who is using part of our historic wheat collection to study iron acquisition mechanisms (siderophores). We are providing the greenhouse work on iron uptake from calcareous soils. Objective 3. This work is mostly completed.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Brunner, S.M., R. J. Goos, S. J. Swenson, S. P. Foster, B. G. Schatz, Y.E. Lawley, and D. A. Preschmann-Voldseth. 2015. Impact of nitrogen fixing and plant growth-promoting bacteria on a phloem-feeding soybean herbivore. Applied Soil Ecology 86:71-81.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Goos, R. J, N. Abdraimova, and B.E. Johnson. 2015. A method for determination of ureides in soybean tissues. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 46:424-429

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The main target audiences for this project are soybean growers and wheat growers in North Dakota. The work with reducing soil-related stress on soybeans involves both water stress and stress caused by iron deficiency chlorosis. This work is supported by the North Dakota Soybean Council, and our results are highlighted in their annual research updates which are widely distributed in North Dakota. The work on phosphorus use efficiency is supported by the North Dakota Wheat Commission, and the results of the first year's work will be done in 2015. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? An undergraduate student, majoring in Horticulture, received extensive training in greenhouse and laboratory research techniques. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The work with spray adjuvants and iron deficiency chlorosis has been reported to the North Dakota Soybean Council, and the results are being disseminated in their 2014 research report. This report will be sent to all soybean farmers in North Dakota. Also, press releases were made during the growing season of 2014. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? 1. Additional greenhouse studies may be conducted. There is great interest in sources of iron previously not sold in North Dakota, including FeEDDHSA and FeHBED. Very limited information is available as to how these sources compare to the industry standard fertilizer, FeEDDHA. 2. The major work of this project from December 2014 through May 2015 is to screen the ~50 historic varieties of wheat for relative need for phosphorus fertilizer. The bulk of the work on goal #2 occurs in the next reporting period. 3. Considerable work has been done with this goal, but the data will be analyzed during the next reporting period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Substantial progress was made with regards to the correction of iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans, through the use of foliar sprays. In the past, foliar sprays have been largely ineffective at reversing the yellowing associated with this disorder. We screened a number of adjuvants to use with FeEDDHA or Fe-lignosulfonate, to see if adjuvant selection was an important factor in the response of the soybeans to the sprays. Foliar sprays were largely ineffective when used with a common non-ionic surfactant, but highly effective when used with high-surfactant methylated seed soil surfactants. Unfortunately, even though near complete re-greening was obtained with the proper adjuvant, new leaves were still yellow. In other words, the iron from the spray was not translocated to new tissue. This is the final challenge of correcting iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans, enhancing translocation of the Fe applied to the plants. 2. Substantial progress was made towards the second goal. About 50 historic wheat varieties were obtained from the USDA, and the seed has been increased to kilogram-sized quantities. Low P soil has been collected, and additional grant support obtained from the North Dakota Wheat Commission. The work on screening wheat varieties for reduced P requirement will begin in December of 2014. 3. Substantial progress was made towards this goal. Much of 2014 was spent screening many compounds previously identified as functioning as antitranspirants in crops. Nine greenhouse studies were conducted. The data are being analyzed at the time of this writing.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Brunner, S.M., R. J. Goos, S. J. Swenson, S. P. Foster, B. G. Schatz, Y.E. Lawley, and D. A. Preschmann-Voldseth. 2014. Impact of nitrogen fixing and plant growth-promoting bacteria on a phloem-feeding soybean herbivore. Applied Soil Ecology 86:71-81.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Mamidi, S, R. K. Lee, R. J. Goos, and P. McClean. 2014. Genome-Wide Association Studies Identifies Seven Major Regions Responsible for Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in Soybean (Glycine max). PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107469
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Goos, R. J, N. Abdraimova, and B.E. Johnson. 2014. A method for determination of ureides in soybean tissues. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (in press).

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Our work with iron deficiency chlorosis has a target audience of soybean farmers and also agronomists and fertilizer dealers who provide iron fertilizer products for soybean farmers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The work on iron deficiency chlorosis was used to train a graduate student, who has since graduated and gone to work in a related field. The work on ureides and N fixation was used to train a visiting scientist from Kazakhstan, who is studying soybean production in her country. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Our work with iron deficiency chlorosis has been reported to farm-related audiences, through normal Extension-type meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? 1. The work with foliar sprays to reduce iron deficiency chlorosis continues. 2. The work with screening wheat varieties for P efficiency will be continued, if funding can be found. 3. The work on anti-transpirants will begin in the summer of 2014.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. The quality and plant-availability of iron fertilizers varies greatly between products. A quick test was developed to evaluate the quality of FeEDDHA fertilizer. The test was calibrated against samples of known content of the "good" isomer of FeEDDHA, the ortho-ortho- isomer, and also against plant uptake of Fe in the greenhouse. Our test is very successful in separating "good" from "bad" products, and this work will be continued in the summer of 2014, using 50 commercial samples taken from the marketplace. Our work with soybeans also included the evaluation of foliar spray adjuvants for alleviation of iron deficiency chlorosis, this work will continue in 2014, and we have already found certain kinds of adjuvants that improve the ability of foliar-applied Fe to alleviate chlorosis. Our work with soybeans also included the development of a new method of determining the content of "ureides" in soybean tissues. Ureides are the transport compounds of N fixation, and is a reliable index of the vigor of N fixation in soybeans. Our method is suitable for high-throughput microplate methods, which may be of interest to plant breeders selecting for improved N fixation. 2. Our work included the seed increase of ~50 historic varieties of hard red spring wheat under uniform conditions. We now have enough seed produced to begin the screening for P uptake efficiency. 3. We have applied for a grant through the North Dakota Soybean Council, and if that grant is funded, we will screen a large number of potential anti-transpirants in the summer of 2014.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Lamkey, C.M., T.C. Helms, and R. J. Goos. 2013. Marker-assisted versus phenotypic selection for iron-deficiency chlorosis in soybean. Euphytica 194:67-78.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2013 Citation: Goos, R. J, N. Abdraimova, and B.E. Johnson. 2013. A method for determination of ureides in soybean tissues. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (accepted for publication).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Goos, R. J. 2013. Effect of fertilizer additives on ammonia loss after surface application of urea-ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 44:1909-1917.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Goos, R.J. 2013. A comparison of a maleic-itaconic polymer and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide as urease inhibitors. Soil Science Society of America Journal 77:14181423.

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included research related to iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeans and evaluation of nitrogen fertilizer additives. Regarding iron deficiency chlorosis, studies were conducted in order to develop simplified methods for determining the quality of commercial samples of FeEDDHA fertilizer without the use of expensive HPLC analysis. Samples of FeEDDHA varying from about 1% to 5.5% Fe in the ortho-ortho isomer were subjected to stability tests upon reaction with soil. Also, two greenhouse studies were performed to provide plant-availability data to compare to the laboratory studies. These studies will be completed in early 2013. Regarding nitrogen fertilizer additives, a maleic-itaconic polymer (Nutrisphere-N) is claimed to be a soil urease inhibitor. A series of laboratory studies were conducted, comparing this product to an established urease inhibitor, NBPT. In general, NBPT was effective as a urease inhibitor. The maleic-itaconic polymer was ineffective as an inhibitor of both soil urease and purified jackbean urease. A series of fertilizer additives were also tested as nitrification inhibitors. In general, products containing dicyandiamide (SuperU) and nitrapyrin (Instinct) slowed nitrification. Products containing the maleic-itaconic polymer (Nutrisphere-N), or Ca-heteropolysaccharides and Ca-aminoethylpiperazine (NZone, and similar products) did not slow nitrification. Events included presenting this information at scientific conferences and farmer educational events. The data on nitrogen fertilizer additives were presented at six major events: North Central Extension Industry Soil Fertility Conference, Manitoba Agronomists Conference, South Dakota Agribusiness CCA Training Conference, Arkansas Agronomy Conference, West Central CCA Update, and the Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: R.J. Goos, Project Leader, B.E. Johnson, Technician, S.E.H. Lovas, Graduate student Collaboration: Soil analyses for one study provided by E.A. Guertal, Auburn University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Targets: Farmers, agronomists, the nitrogen and iron fertilizer industry. Efforts: Presentations to meetings of scientific peers, and also meetings attended by farmers, agronomists, and fertilizer dealers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Regarding the iron chlorosis work, a change in knowledge will be evident when this work is completed in 2013. A simple test, which could be performed by any soil testing lab, will be developed to allow for the evaluation of the quality of FeEDDHA fertilizers. The quality of such fertilizers varies greatly, depending on the source. Only the ortho-ortho isomer is effective in calcareous soils, and no lab in the USA is set up to determine this on a routine basis for the fertilizer industry. Our test will only require a simple spectrophotometer. Regarding the nitrogen fertilizer additives, a change in knowledge is evident. Products that have been widely promoted as having nitrification and urease inhibition properties have been shown to have little effect on these reactions. Products that have been long-established as urease and nitrification inhibitors have performed in accordance with past studies. It is hoped that these results will lead to a change in action on the part of agronomists, farmers, and the fertilizer industry, and that only the most effective products will be recommended to farmers.

Publications

• Goos, R. J. 2011. Nitrogen fertilizer additives, which ones work Proceedings of the North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference, Des Moines, Iowa. Published online at: http://tinyurl.com/caejvdx
• Goos, R.J. 2012. Evaluation of five new nitrogen fertilizer additives. Proceedings of the Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference, Denver CO, 6-7 March 2012. Kansas State Univ. 14:30-36.