Response of Soybean Yield and Certain Growth Parameters to Simulated Reproductive Structure Removal

Soybeans often encounter several in-season stressors that can alter retention of reproductive structures. To understand soybean response to structural losses through altered growth parameters—and, ultimately, yield—a field trial was established in Bixby, Oklahoma, 2019 and 2020 Perkins, 2019. Removal structures occurred at full flower (R2), the beginning pod development (R3), seed (R5) three locations on plant (top third (T), middle (M), whole (W)). The impact removal yield R2 R3 stages did not significantly differ from non-treated soybean. Pod as late R5 upper fruiting positions (T) had a lesser overall yield, with R5:T showing reduction number 860 seeds plant−1, whereas R5:M 1921 plant−1 below portion mainstem location where loss demonstrated paramount R5, this region is large sink major contributor yield. Late-season, stress-negating recovery, depending severity, may indicate management practices should anticipate physiological limitations for stress, well potential relative recovery improvement.