Bragg soybeans grown on a southern coastal plains soil i. dry matter distribution,nodal growth analysis,and sample variability

Yields of soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are affected by the manner in which available resources are partitioned into component plant parts. Little is known about these partitioning processes and much of what has been reported describes indeterminate cultivars or comes from other than field studies. A field investigation was conducted, therefore, on a Goldsboro loamy sand (Aquic Paleudult) to characterize in detail the growth and development of a determinate soybean cultivar ‘Bragg’. Soybean were grown in well watered field plots in four replications from each of which 4 nested samples of 0.3 m² each were combined at each sampling. Leaf area, dry matter production, internode length, and sample variability were determined nodally at 10‐ to 14‐day intervals from 7 July to 17 October. Plant components at each node were separated into stems, leaf blades, pods, and petioles. Primary and secondary branches were combined in the petiole fraction.

Maximum above ground plant dry weight achieved was 1027 g/m² and maximum combined nodal dry weight was 92 g/m² (at node 8), both occurring at the R7 growth stage. Canopy dry weight distribution over time was unique for each plant part. Growth analyses showed that RGR, NAR, LAR, and LWR declined with plant age at a rate that could be described with either linear or exponential models. A maximum CGR of 16.24 g/m²/day occurred at mid‐podfill and declined thereafter due to maturity. Leaf area per node peaked between nodes 7 and 12, decreasing uniformly toward the top of the canopy. Maximum nodal LAI was 0.79 at node 7 on 31 August.

Distribution of dry weight among parts varied with plant age and node position. Maximum dry weights of stems (276 g/m²), petioles (253 g/m²), and leaves (263 g/m²) were found during mid‐podfill. During mid‐August, the dry weights of the stems, petioles, and leaves were similar and approximately 250 g/m². Stem dry weights had the lowest coefficients of variation of all plant fractions once maximum dry weight was achieved. Internode length varied along the stem with the maximum at node 12. By bloom, expansion of the internodes lower than 12 had ceased; expansion of the eight higher internodes ceased three weeks later. During vegetative growth, the ratio of stem internodal dry weight to internodal length had peak values at the lowest and highest internodes. During reproductive growth, the ratio decreased linearly with internode number. Coefficients of variation (CV) for the combined weight of plant parts, and for stems, petioles, leaves, and pods were relatively constant during the season and were 24.8, 23.4, 38.2, 25.5, and 26.8%, respectively. The CV's for the combined weight of plant parts were somewhat higher at the lowest and uppermost nodes. This variability resulted from the abscission of petioles and leaves in the lower nodes and the initiation of leaves, petioles, and pods in the upper nodes where rapid growth and development was occurring. Time from node initiation to achievement of lowest stable CV was determined for each node and plant part. Plant node position and morphological part with the lowest CV was identified for each sampling date (and growth stage).