Field Crop 2025, Vol.8, No.4, 176-186 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 176 Feature Review Open Access Agronomic Optimization of Fertilization and Irrigation Regimes for High-Yield Soybean Cultivation Dan Luo, Yunxia Chen, Hangming Lin Tropical Legume Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: hangming.lin@hitar.org Field Crop, 2025, Vol.8, No.4 doi: 10.5376/fc.2025.08.0017 Received: 13 May, 2025 Accepted: 23 Jun., 2025 Published: 18 Jul., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Luo et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Luo D., Chen Y.X., and Lin H.M., 2025, Agronomic optimization of fertilization and irrigation regimes for high-yield soybean cultivation, Field Crop, 8(4): 176-186 (doi: 10.5376/fc.2025.08.0017) Abstract Soybean (Glycine max) is a globally important crop serving as a major source of food, feed, and industrial products, yet achieving consistently high yields under diverse agro-ecological conditions remains a significant challenge. In this study, we explored the agronomic optimization of fertilization and irrigation regimes to enhance soybean yield through a comprehensive analysis of nutrient requirements, targeted fertilization strategies, and precision irrigation practices. We examined the macronutrient and micronutrient demands of soybean across different growth stages and highlighted innovations such as integrated nutrient management, site-specific applications, and controlled-release fertilizers. Irrigation scheduling based on evapotranspiration models and soil moisture sensors was evaluated, along with the impacts of drought and waterlogging on yield and plant physiology. Furthermore, we analyzed the synergistic effects of fertigation, nutrient-water interactions, and the use of advanced precision agriculture tools-including remote sensing, UAVs, and AI-based decision support systems. A case study in the U.S. Midwest soybean belt demonstrated the successful application of variable rate fertilization and automated irrigation, leading to significant yield improvements and reduced environmental impact. This research underscores the importance of synchronizing nutrient and water management in soybean production and suggests future directions for integrating climate-resilient strategies and farmer-accessible technologies to support sustainable intensification. Keywords Soybean yield optimization; Fertilization strategies; Irrigation scheduling; Precision agriculture; Nutrient-water interactIons 1 Introduction The value of soybeans (Glycine max) has actually been deeply rooted in people's minds for a long time. Not only is it eaten by humans and livestock, but it can also be transformed into industrial oil, biodiesel, and even a good helper for improving soil structure (Zhong and Zhong, 2024). Especially in countries like Brazil, the United States and China, the position of soybeans is so stable that it needs no further elaboration-it supports a large part of agriculture. Even better, as a leguminous crop, it inherently possesses the ability to fix nitrogen, which significantly contributes to the sustainable development of agriculture (Galeriani et al., 2022; Li et al., 2022; Liborio et al., 2023). However, reality is not always idealized. In many places, growing soybeans is no easy task. Insufficient water, unscientific irrigation, and lack of nutrients in the soil. These are all real problems. Especially nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements like boron, the deficiency of any one of them will have a considerable impact on the output. In arid and semi-arid regions, the key issue to be addressed is how to make good use of water. However, in areas where the soil is not fertile to begin with, what to apply and how to apply it are particularly crucial. Moreover, as the climate becomes increasingly unpredictable and the soil itself varies greatly, it is not easy to achieve both high production and environmental protection (Zhang et al., 2023; Tadesse et al., 2024; Zhang et al., 2024). Therefore, this study does not intend to delve into theoretical models at great height, but rather focuses on the specific practices of fertilization and irrigation in high-yield soybean cultivation. We have focused on some practical strategies, such as drip irrigation, water-scarce irrigation, groundwater irrigation, combined with the
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