Tile Drainage, Beds, and Fe-EDDHA Application Effect on Soybean Production

Abstract

Eastern North Dakota has received excessive rainfall events since 1995, and soils are prone to waterlogging. This research evaluated the effects of subsurface tile drainage, raised beds, and iron-chelate (Fe-EDDHA) seed-application on iron-deficiency chlorosis (IDC) incidence in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], soybean growth, and yield, across six environments during 2013 and 2014. Tile drainage without beds increased soybean yield and reduced IDC by 11%. Beds resulted in more vigorous plants with 9% more biomass and increased soybean yield by 6%. There was no yield advantage to using both tile and raised beds within the same field. The Fe-EDDHA reduced plant population and IDC expression, increased plant biomass, but did not result in a yield increase. Farmers are encouraged to consider utilizing raised beds as a means to mitigate excess water. Additional research is needed to determine the cause of lower established plant density after seed application with Fe-EDDHA.