Effect of artificial shading on soybean growth and yield

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max) stands out in the agricultural scene, being one of the main sources of protein and oil for human and animal nutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth, radiation use efficiency, and the yield of soybean, cultivated under four levels of artificial shading to simulate the environment provided by an agroforestry system. A field experiment was conducted in Frederico Westphalen, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from December 2015 to April 2016. The experimental design was completely randomized with four levels of shading (0, 30, 50, and 70%) as treatment, and eight collections of plants at specific growth stages. The growth and yield traits of the soybean crop are influenced differently as a function of shade levels. Thus, the simulation of an agroforestry system from artificial shading allowed the recommendation of soybean cultivation for intercropping systems, provided that the interception of solar radiation by the tree component is less than 30%, in order to enable soybean cultivation.