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Transgenic soybean combined with no-tillage flat planting promotes the simplification of soybean production in Northeast China

LI Wei1,**,ZHU Yu-Peng1,**,SUN Bin-Cheng2,WEN You-Xiang3,WU Zong-Sheng1,XU Yi-Fan1,SONG Wen-Wen1,*,XU Cai-Long1,*,WU Cun-Xiang1,*   

  1. 1 Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / National Soybean Industrial Technology R & D Center, Beijing 100081, China; 2 Hulunbuir Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hulun Buir 021000, Inner Mongolia, China; 3 Zhalantun Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Extension Center, Hulun Buir 162650, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2025-03-27 Revised:2025-07-09 Accepted:2025-07-09 Published:2025-07-16
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFE0105000), the Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-04).

Abstract:

Low yield, high production costs, and limited profitability are major factors contributing to insufficient soybean production in China. The Northeast region, which accounts for over 60% of the national soybean planting area, plays a pivotal role in national soybean output. Therefore, optimizing production practices in this region is crucial for improving soybean yield and economic returns. In this study, based on the use of glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified soybean varieties, four tillage treatments were evaluated: no-tillage with straw returning (NTRS), deep ripping every two years with straw returning (STRS), ridge tillage with straw returning (DTRS), and rotary tillage without straw returning (RTR). The objective was to assess the effects of these production modes on yield formation, weed control, and economic benefits. Results showed that the NTRS treatment increased soil temperature and moisture at the emergence stage, moderately enhanced soil compaction in the tillage layer, improved soil moisture during sowing, and significantly enhanced both the emergence rate and speed. Compared with the STRS, DTRS, and RTR treatments, NTRS improved emergence rates by 3.63%, 2.72%, and 4.66%, respectively. NTRS also significantly reduced weed density and the weed dominance index while increasing weed diversity. Weed emergence was primarily concentrated in the V2–V3 growth stages, which facilitated timely herbicide application and effective weed suppression, ultimately reducing weed dry weight at the R8 stage. Compared with RTR, all three straw-returning treatments (NTRS, STRS, and DTRS) reduced the height of the lowest pods. Among them, NTRS significantly increased the number of pods and grains per plant, resulting in a yield of 3603 kg hm?2, representing a 5.12% to 9.22% increase over other treatments. In terms of economic benefits, the NTRS treatment minimized the need for intensive tillage, reduced labor costs, and significantly lowered production inputs, thereby improving both agricultural productivity and profitability. In conclusion, the no-tillage flat cultivation system combined with genetically modified soybean varieties improved soil thermal and moisture conditions, enhanced seedling emergence, facilitated weed management, reduced input costs, and increased yield. This simplified production system offers a promising approach for achieving low-cost, high-efficiency soybean cultivation in Northeast China.

Key words: production mode, genetically modified soybean, weeds, economic benefits, yield

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