1131
Micronutrients for soybean production in the North Central region
Antonio P. Mallarino; Daniel E. Kaiser; Dorivar A. Ruiz-Diaz; Carrie A.M. Laboski; James J. Camberato; Tony J. Vyn
Extension article/bulletin
Guidance/extension
Soybean
Boron
Chlorine / Chloride
Cobalt
Copper
Iron
Manganese
Molybdenum
Nickel
Zinc
View source document
year
2017
Country
United States
Summary - ai generated

This multi-state (IA, MN, KS, WI, IN/PU) Extension bulletin reviews soybean micronutrient management. Micronutrient deficiencies in the region are uncommon except for iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn); soil/tissue test interpretations are poorly calibrated due to infrequent responses. Boron (B): deficiency rare, no documented regional yield increases from B fertilization, and soybean is very sensitive to B toxicity (yield decreases reported in MN); avoid in-furrow/seed placement. Copper (Cu): soybean among least Cu-sensitive crops; 42 Iowa and 10 Kansas trials found no yield increase, one Iowa site showed a yield decrease from Cu application. Chlorine (Cl): deficiencies rare; IA, MN (20 lb Cl/acre), and KS (5-20 lb Cl/acre) trials found no soybean yield response (IA trial did boost corn yield). Iron: causes IDC, a major yield-limiting issue in the western Corn Belt tied to high pH/carbonate soils; broadcast Fe and DTPA/EDTA chelates gave inconsistent results, but seed/in-furrow ortho-ortho-EDDHA chelate consistently reduced IDC and increased yield; IDC-tolerant varieties and oat companion crops (reducing soil nitrate) also help. Manganese: deficiency tied to calcareous/organic soils, common in parts of IN, MI, OH, WI; foliar or planter-banded Mn (0.2-0.5 lb/acre chelate or 1-1.25 lb/acre sulfate) is most effective since broadcast Mn becomes unavailable; banded-plus-foliar combinations maximize response; recent large-scale IA/KS/MN trials (99+ sites) found essentially no yield response even where soil tests predicted deficiency, though one sandy-soil site responded to Mn. Foliar Mn can antagonize glyphosate. Molybdenum: linked to N fixation; deficiency corrected via liming rather than direct Mo fertilization. Zinc: soybean much less Zn-sensitive than corn; regional trials found no yield increase from Zn even on soils where corn would respond. Overall message: confirmed micronutrient responses in soybean are rare regionally, and current soil/tissue test thresholds often over-predict deficiency.

Keywords

soybean; micronutrients; North Central Region; soil testing; tissue testing; extension publication

Outcomes reported
Diagnostic
Plant growth
Soil properties
Nutrient uptake
Soil properties
Yield
Synthesis
Key insight
This soybean bulletin emphasizes that iron and manganese deficiencies are the most important micronutrient concerns in the North Central Region and that tissue testing can aid diagnosis where soil tests are weak.
Limitations
This is a multi-state extension synthesis and does not provide one paper-level experimental dataset for treatment-response extraction.
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