Soybean Productivity as Affected by Raised Seedbeds and Subsurface Drainage
Abstract
Soils of the Red River of the North Valley (RRNV) are susceptible to waterlogging upon excessive rainfall events. Raised seedbeds and subsurface drainage are methods to reduce waterlogging in soils. The objectives of this research were to evaluate soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] productivity when grown on raised seedbeds and/or with subsurface drainage. Soybean grain yield on raised seedbeds averaged across six environments in 2012 was similar to flat seedbeds during a dry year. Subsurface drainage increased soybean grain yield by 17% in 2011, a year which had above normal rainfall during the majority of the growing season. In 2012, a year with below normal rainfall, soybean grain yield was similar across subsurface drainage treatments. Although grain yield did not increase on raised seedbeds, grain yield was not reduced in a dry year. Subsurface drainage may be a useful tool to improve soybean productivity in the RRNV.