New Soybean Increases Nitrogen Uptake

December 27, 2006 — 

A new soybean variety removes large amounts of nitrogen applied to soil through animal waste.

The germplasm, developed by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at North Carolina State University, could be developed into a new soybean cultivar and become an ideal candidate for animal producers managing waste generated by their operations.

In contrast to today's soybean varieties which rely on bacteria located in root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into fertilizer the plant can use, this new germplasm (called Nitrasoy) is non-nodulating and can uptake land-applied nitrogen. In field tests, Nitrasoy accumulated up to 17 percent more soil-applied nitrogen in its seed than did its parent, D68-0099. In other tests, Nitrasoy was No. 1 in average seed yield when compared to three other genotypes, after each had been fertilized with swine-lagoon effluent.

Source:
USDA, ARS, December 4, 2006