Legume Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 280-290 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/lgg 288 resulted in a 22.8% higher seed yield compared to normal planting density, and uniform plant spacing further enhanced yield by 9.5%. Additionally, nutrient management, particularly nitrogen application, plays a crucial role in yield optimization. In arid regions, the optimal combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers was found to significantly enhance grain yield and biomass. Therefore, the appropriate combination of plant density and nutrient management is essential to achieve maximum soybean yield. Achieving optimal soybean yield requires a comprehensive approach that considers plant density, nutrient management, and environmental factors. Studies have shown that soybean plants exhibit high plasticity, adapting their photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation to different plant densities, which can mitigate the effects of environmental and nutritional stresses. Moreover, the interaction between row spacing, plant density, and nitrogen fertilization has been found to influence various physiological and yield components in soybean-wheat intercropping systems. Therefore, a multi-factor collaborative management strategy that integrates these elements is necessary to optimize soybean yield under varying environmental conditions. For practical agricultural applications, farmers and producers should adopt strategies that optimize both planting and fertilization practices. For instance, reducing plant density can lower input costs and reduce susceptibility to environmental stresses without significantly compromising yield. Additionally, ensuring uniform plant distribution and optimal fertilization can enhance yield without increasing other farm inputs. Practical guidelines derived from research, such as the optimal fertilization levels for different regions and the benefits of early planting and stress minimization, can help farmers achieve higher yields. By implementing these strategies, farmers can improve soybean productivity and sustainability in their agricultural practices. Acknowledgments The authors express sincere gratitude to Dr. X. Fang, a molecular geneticist and the Director of the Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, for his thorough review of the manuscript draft and comprehensive revision suggestions. The authors also extend thanks to the two anonymous peer reviewers for their valuable comments and recommendations on this paper. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Adamič S., and Leskovšek R., 2021, Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) growth, yield, and nodulation in the early transition period from conventional tillage to conservation and no-tillage systems, Agronomy, 11(12): 2477. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122477 Assefa Y., Purcell L., Salmerón M., Naeve S., Casteel S., Kovács P., Archontoulis S., Licht M., Below F., Kandel H., Lindsey L., Gaska J., Conley S., Shapiro C., Orlowski J., Golden B., Kaur G., Singh M., Thelen K., Laurenz R., Davidson D., and Ciampitti I., 2019, Assessing variation in US soybean seed composition (protein and oil), Frontiers in Plant Science, 10: 298. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00298 Bagale S., 2021, Nutrient management for soybean crops, International Journal of Agronomy, 2021(1): 3304634. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/3304634 Bender R., Haegele J., and Below F., 2015, Nutrient uptake, partitioning, and remobilization in modern soybean varieties, Agronomy Journal, 107: 563-573. https://doi.org/10.2134/AGRONJ14.0435 Dass A., Rajanna G., Babu S., Lal S., Choudhary A., Singh R., Rathore S., Kaur R., Dhar S., Singh T., Raj R., Shekhawat K., Singh C., and Kumar B., 2022, Foliar application of macro- and micronutrients improves the productivity, economic returns, and resource-use efficiency of soybean in a semiarid climate, Sustainability, 14(10): 5825. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105825 Echarte L., Maggiora A., Cerrudo D., Gonzalez V., Abbate P., Cerrudo A., Sadras V., and Calviño P., 2011, Yield response to plant density of maize and sunflower intercropped with soybean, Field Crops Research, 121: 423-429. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FCR.2011.01.011 Farias G., Bremm C., Bredemeier C., Menezes J., Alves L., Tiecher T., Martins A., Fioravanço G., Silva G., and Carvalho P., 2023, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for soybean biomass and nutrient uptake estimation in response to production systems and fertilization strategies, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6: 959681. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.959681
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==