Good agricultural practices and technologies to reduce the impact of natural hazards in soybean production in

Good agricultural practices and technologies to reduce the impact of natural hazards in soybean production in Serbia

By Jegor Miladinović and Slaven Prodanović

Coordination team Reuben Sessa, Teodardo Calles, Makiko Taguchi, Tamara van’t Wout and Santiago Santos

Panel of experts Ljiljana Duduković, Ana Bogunović, Danijela Božanić, Milan Ćuprić, Veljko Đorđević, Aleksandar Glišić, Snežana Janković, Miroslav Kiš, Natalija Kurjak, Milica Lazarević, Violeta Mandić, Aleksandar Mentov, Tatjana Miranović Drobnjak, Dragan Nedeljković, Sandra Nedeljković, Goran Pejanović, Vukosav Saković, Slađan Stanković, Dragan Terzić, Ružica Tripić, Marjana Vasiljević, Mirjam Vujadinović Mandić and Ana Vuković

This brochure has been developed as one of the outputs of the FAO project ‘Enhancement of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) capacities and mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) practices into the Agricultural Sector in the Western Balkans’ (TCP/RER/3504).

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ROME, 2021 Required citation: Miladinović, J. and Prodanović, S. 2021. Good agricultural practices and technologies to reduce the impact of natural hazards in soybean production in Serbia. Rome, FAO.

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Cover photo credit: © Maize Research Institute Polje, Content

Rationale v

The importance of soybean 1

Ripening groups of soybean varieties 2

Agroecological (environmental) conditions for soybean growth 2

Natural hazards and soybean stress 5

Good agricultural practices and technologies to reduce the impact of natural hazards in soybean production 7

Crop rotation 7

Soil tillage 8

Vertical tillage (with subsoiler) 9

Mulching 10

Cover crops 10

Variety selection 11

Sowing 11

Intercropping 12

Fertilization 13

Weed and pest control 14

Irrigation 15

Drainage 15

Harvesting 16

Summary 17

Contact 19

iii GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA © Institute of© Institute , Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field

iv Rationale

Natural hazards, such as floods, droughts, summarized in a draft that was prepared by storms, have steadily increased during the Jegor Miladinović and Slaven Prodanović. past few years. With climate change, it is At the validation workshop that was expected that these hazards will increase conducted on 16 November 2017, the in frequency and severity. According to manuscript was reviewed and supplemented the 2015 World Risk Index, the exposure with suggestions provided. This brochure of the population in the Western Balkan (booklet) lists all identified and validated countries to such hazards is the highest good agricultural practices and innovative within the European region. Agriculture technologies that could help soybean is one of the most climate sensitive producers to reduce the impacts of natural sectors and thus highly vulnerable to hazards. climate change. Given its importance to the Serbian economy, the people whose livelihoods depend on the sector and its activities may be significantly affected. These natural hazards may adversely impact crops, through leading to yield reductions as well as partial and total crop failure. The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (MAFWM) is keen to increase soybean producers’ capacities to reduce the adverse impacts of natural hazards on soybean production. Therefore, MAFWM requested the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO) to facilitate the development of a brochure with good practices and technologies to reduce the impact of natural hazards. As part of the process, a Serbian panel of soybean experts participated at the inception workshop held in Belgrade, Serbia on 26-27 September 2017 to discuss the current knowledge and practices in this area. This panel of experts included representatives of MAFWM, universities, research institutes, hydro-meteorological service, agricultural extention services, associations of farmers, soybean producers, and private sector. The conclusions and recommendations from the workshop were

v GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA © Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field

vi GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

The importance of soybean Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], is one of the 160 to 220 thousand hectares, which is most important agricultural plants. Soybean expected to further increase in the future. The has a great usable value in nutrition, food average soybean yield in Serbia for the last technology and industry. Soybean grain ten years is 2.61 tonnes per hectare, which is contains about 40 percent of protein and about above the world average, but the yield is very 20 percent of oil. unstable and varies from below 1.7 tonnes In Serbia, soybean is grown on about per hectare up to 3.5 tonnes per hectare, 200 000 hectares. The areas of soybean depending on the year and the weather production during the last years vary from conditions during the vegetation period.

1Source: Republic of Serbia, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/WebSite/public/ReportView.aspx nttt fField and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia © Institute of

1 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

group II later. The varieties of the ripening Ripening groups of group 00 and 000 in our conditions have soybean varieties such a short vegetation period that they can be sown as the second crop, i.e. post- Soybean varieties are divided into groups harvest crop. of ripening, according to the length of their vegetation period and reaction to the length of daylight. In Serbia, the soybean varieties Agroecological of the ripening groups 000, 00, 0, I, II and III. Varieties of the group 000 have the (environmental) shortest vegetation period, and the varieties conditions for of each following group have an ever longer vegetation period. soybean growth In ecological conditions of Serbia, it is optimal to cultivate the soybean varieties of For productive growth and development the ripening group I. In relation to them, of soybeans, good agricultural measures the varieties of the ripening group 0 ripen need to be carried out in appropriate earlier and the varieties of the ripening agroecological conditions. Farmers need

Maturity groups of soybean cultivars, groups 000, 00, 0, I и II Source: Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. Modified to comply with UN. 2020. Map of the World [online]. © Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field

2 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA nttt fField and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia © Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia © Institute of

Soybean root Vegetative stage of development

to know optimal soybean needs for the soybean is well supplied with water and most important agroecological factors. nutrients, then it is not demanding for The soybean requirements regarding particular type and conditions of the soil. soil, water, temperature and light are Maturity groups of soybean cultivars, groups 000, 00, 0, I и II described below. Water – Successful soybean production Source: Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. Modified to comply with UN. 2020. Map of the World [online]. requires about 600 mm of precipitation Soil – Soybean needs fertile, loosely, well- during the growing season, but with a aerated soil, with a deep plowed layer and favorable schedule, this amount may be neutral pH reaction. Like most leguminous even lower (450 mm). Water requirements species, soybeans enter in a symbiotic are not the same during the various stages relationship with soil nitrogen-fixing of soybean growth and development. bacteria (Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium). At the time of sowing, the soil in the These bacteria live in the nodules of seedbed should be wet, because in dry soil soybean roots. They take nitrogen from the seed cannot germinate and emerge. the atmosphere and convert it into During the initial stages of growth and a form suitable for plant nutrition. For development of soybean, it is good that the development of these bacteria, air is there is a slight deficiency of moisture needed, which is why well-aerated land is in the soil. Then the soybean is forced an important prerequisite for successful to develop a more powerful root system soybean production. Also, for the activity that goes deeper in search of water, and of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the soil should this will be very important in later stages not be acidic or alkaline. If the nitrogen- of growth and development, especially in fixing bacteria are active, they supply the the summer months when the moisture soybean plant with the necessary nitrogen, deficit is most pronounced. Otherwise, if which reduces the need for fertilization. in the initial growth phases there is enough Whether the bacteria are active can be water in the soil, the plant is ‘luxuriated’ determined by cutting the nodules - if - it develops a large vegetative mass and the color is pink or, even better, red, weaker root system, which later has negative it means that the bacteria are active. If consequences, because the vegetative mass

3 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA © Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field

Flowering of soybean Mature soybean plants

consumes the water needed for filling the grain, and the plant cannot uptake water from deeper soil layers. In the period of flowering, fertilization and formation of pods, the soybean achieves the first largest needs for water. If there is not enough water at that time, the soybean will form less pods and have a lower number of grains. During the period of pod / grain filling, the soybean has the second largest water needs. The soybean yield depends

© Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field largely on the amount of water available at the disposal of plants at this stage. In our Green pods of soybean conditions this is at the end of July and the beginning of August. After the filling of the grain, the soybean needs for water drops rapidly, as the plant releases moisture, loses the leaves and is ready for harvesting.

Temperature – is essential for the growth and development of soybeans. Soybean is a plant originated from warm areas. For sowing the seed, it is necessary that the soil temperature in the seedbed reaches 10 °C. Warm weather goes well down to soybean during growth and development, and if

© Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field the crop has sufficient water, there is no temperature limit in soybean production. Mature pods of soybean

4 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

Light – Soybean is a photoperiodically of land is not optimal, or that there was no highly sensitive plant, which means it possibility of performing some good agro- responds very strongly to the intensity and technical practices (e.g. delayed sowing due to duration of daylight. If the intensity of weather conditions, insufficient fertilization the illumination of the plants is reduced of crops due to lack of fertilizer etc.). due to the presence of weeds or the high About unpredictable factors farmers have crop density, the soybean grows slower, no reliable knowledge in what form they forms a smaller number of nodes, branches will manifest. These factors are: sunlight and pods, resulting in weaker plants and intensity, temperature, precipitation, relative lower yield. The duration of daytime humidity, wind speed, and others. They illumination directly affects the flowering are manifested in extreme forms as natural of the soybean, or the transition from the hazards. Agriculture is highly climate vegetative to the reproductive phase. sensitive and therefore vulnerable to the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. It is expected that with climate Natural hazards change, the number and severity of these hazards will increase. Natural hazards that and soybean stress can endanger or even destroy the soybean The basic characteristic of each variety is its crop are the following: low temperatures and yield potential, that is, the yield that could frosts, abundant precipitation and floods, be achieved if all conditions of cultivation stormy winds and hails, soil erosion, high were ideal, i.e. all agroecological factors are temperatures and droughts. Their impact on optimal and correspond to the needs of the soybean is described below. plant. When some agroecological factors do not reach or exceed the optimum needs Low temperatures (below 10 °C) – of soybean, then the loses and the yield slow down germination, root development decreases. Reduction in yield depends on and growth of above-ground parts of which agroecological factor deviates from plants. The plantlets emerge slow on the the needs of soybean, with which intensity surface of the soil, and they could be and how long it lasts, whether it manifests chlorotic (yellowish), which can cause itself or with other agroecological factors, wilting and death of young plants. If these in which stage of plant growth and plants survive, they tend to be weakened, development it occurs, what agrotechnical poorly grown, and more easily affected measures are applied to that moment in by the attack of pathogens. The longer soybean production and whether there the period of low temperatures and the are possibilities to apply some additional wetter the soil, the greater the damage to measures that can mitigate its effects and young plants. The negative influence of reduce the stress. low temperatures increases with deeper Agroecological factors that cause stress sowing, because then the germ must pass can be divided into two groups: predictable over the longer path through the cooled and unpredictable. soil to its surface, thereby exhausting itself. Predictable factors are known, for If low temperatures occur at the end of example, when farmers know that the type the vegetation period, soy breaks the life

5 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

depressions, there is no air in the soil, and there appeared the anaerobic conditions that are unfavorable for germination and root development. Excessive and long- lasting humidity makes the sowing more difficult, and if the seed is still sown, it will germinate slowly or will rot. The abundant precipitation in the final stages of maturation can also cause yield losses, primarily because of the humid soil it is impossible to enter the field with combine harvester, but also because if the storm persists, the lodging, opening of the pods and the spreading of ripe seeds will occur.

Floods – When the soybean crop is flooded, the damage is mostly complete. A small number of plants survive, their health is poor and further production of © Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field the same crop does not make sense, i.e. no yield can be expected to cover the costs cycle. However, in our conditions, harvest of continuing production of such soybean is mainly carried out during September, and crop. It is best to undertake re-sowing, this phenomenon is very rare and occurs i.e. sowing of a new soybean crop on only in extremely rainy years and in soybean the same surface, if agroecological and varieties with longer vegetation period, organizational enable. from the III group of ripening. Stormy winds and hails – break Frosts – they occur frequently during down and lodge the stems, destroy the the spring. Soybeans in early stages of leaf surface, damage and tear off the pods, development can withstand short-term and disperse the grain, and reduce the yield of weak frosts (up to –1 °C), and even when soybeans. such frosts damage the plants, they quickly recover if after that a warm and nice Soil erosion – degradates soil, mostly weather takes place. Strong frosts (below by displacement the upper fertile layers –1 °C) destroy soybean plants. At these of soil. Severe soil erosion can occur as temperatures, the upper part of the plant a consequence of heavy rainfall, floods, is mainly damaged or severe leaf damage stormy winds and hails. However, occurs. soil erosion may be a slow process of degradation that is relatively unnoticed. Heavy rainfall – is increasingly occurring in the spring. If water is retained High temperatures and drought – on the surface of the soil, as it the case with During the summer months, very clayey, poorly permeable soils, and in micro- high daytime temperatures can cause

6 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

yield reductions, but only if they are accompanied by severe soil and air drought. If in these months the soybean has enough water, there is a basis for high yield, and if not, the grains that are formed will remain small or shrunken. Under severe drought conditions, the drying and fall of the pods will occur, and the yield will be reduced. nttt fField and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia © Institute of Good agricultural practices and technologies to reduce the impact of natural hazards in soybean bellow is the basis to reduce the impact of natural hazards in the production of production soybeans. Omission of any of the listed GAPs in the soybean cropping or deviation Soybean cropping technology includes a from them means neglecting the needs set of practices (techniques) relating to: of the plants during their growth and crop rotation, soil tillage, vertical tillage development and causes stress to plants and (with subsoilers), mulching, growing the reduction of yield. cover crops, variety selection, sowing, When listing and describing the GAPs, intercropping, fertilization, weed control their modifications (MGAPs) which are and pest control, irrigation / drainage related to cases when it is expected or known and harvesting. Good agricultural that a certain natural hazard will occur, are practices (GAP) in soybean production particularly highlighted. MGAPs contribute in environmental conditions of Serbia, to the soybean crop to pass through these help to provide proper growth and hazards, maintain the yield and the grain development to plants, as well as provide quality as stable as possible, with the least high yields of soybean crop to farmers, are possible negative consequences. described below. Properly developed plants are healthy Crop rotation and strong, they more easily oppose to the Appropriate crop rotation helps to reduce fluctuations of agroecological factors, and the impact of droughts. they are less susceptible to stress. In this Crop rotation is the growing of different sense, the application of the GAPs listed crops in succession on a piece of land. Crop

7 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA © Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field

Basic tillage Cultivation

rotation also helps to improve soil quality, Soil tillage is the agricultural preparation increase plant productivity, and control of of the soil through manual or mechanised pests and weeds. methods, such as overturning, digging, and stirring. Tillage reduces soil compaction, Recommended practices and improves the soil texture, thereby contributes technologies: to efficient water use, protects against • 1: Take care about the forecrop: Use wheat erosion, provides better efficacy of the and maize as a forecrop. Avoid sunflower applied herbicides and, thus increases crop and rape seed as a forecrops, because competitiveness. It includes the basic soil they have common diseases (Phomopsis, tillage, the presowing soil preparation, the Sclerotinia) with soybean. The period from conservation tillage, and the cultivation. the cultivation of sunflower and rapeseed to cultivation of soybean in the same field, Recommended practices and should be at least 4 years. technologies: • 2: Avoid continious cropping of soybean (long-term monoculture), it complicates Basic soil tillage weed management and control of diseases • 5: If the forecrop is wheat or other cereals, and pests. It also leads to the reduction of immediately after harvesting, practice grain yield. shallow plowing at a depth of 8–15 cm. This • 3: If herbicides are used, check their label practice serves to incorporate crop residues on crop rotational restrictions. into the soil, where they will be decomposed • 4: Especially avoid sugarbeet and clover by the microorganisms and then become as the forecrops, because they leave the the nutriment of cultivated plants. It also soil dry. induces weeds to germinate, destroys already emerged weeds, and thus makes Soil tillage the weed control easier. Soil tillage breaks Appropriate soil tillage helps to reduce the the system of capillaries in the surface of impact of heavy rainfall, floods, soil erosion the soil and thus prevents the losses of and drought. moisture from the soil by evaporation and

8 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA nttt fField and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia © Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia © Institute of

Soybean crop

enables rainfall to penetrate deeper into the Let the residues on the surface between soil during the summer. If the forecrop is ridges. Use machinery with appropriate maize, immediately after harvesting, chop technical characteristics for the the harvest residues. conservation tillage. There are numerous • 6: Conduct the basic tillage in autumn, as methods of conservation tillage, such as early as possible in the layer of 25–30 cm reduced tillage, partial tillage, no-tillage, and incorporate mineral fertilizers. with noumerous variations, which are not yet widely used in Serbia, but have have Presowing soil preparation shown benefits around the world. • 7: Conduct the presowing tillage early in the spring in order to prepare the Soil cultivation seedbed and keep the moisture for • 9: Conduct the soil cultivation between seed germination. Set the depth on the rows. Cultivation breaks down and shakes position of the seed bed (4–5 cm). Two the surface layer of soil, improves its tillage passes are required, first, as soon structure, water and air regime, stimulates as possible to enter with the machinery the activity of microorganisms that into the field in the early spring, (so- decompose plowed organic matter, and called “closing the furrow”) and the by interrupting the soil micro-capillaries second, immediately before sowing. prevents evaporation, i.e. keeps the Soybean requires ideal soil preparation moisture reserve in the soil. for proper emergence and plant growth. Vertical tillage (with Conservation tillage subsoiler) • 8: For soils that are usually too wet for Vertical tillage helps to reduce the impact of tillage in early spring, you may use the heavy rainfall, floods and drought. ridge tillage (low tillage agriculture). Vertical tillage is an agricultural Let the soil undisturbed from harvest to practice of fracturing the heavy soils and sowing, except for strips up to one-third decreasing their compaction by subsoilers of the row width. Sow seed in the ridge. that penetrate into the deeper layers of the

9 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

soil. It aims to improve the soil structure, Recommended practices and increase water infiltration and nutrient technologies: take-up. Vertical tillage repairs the physical • 11: In the years when drought is expected, properties of heavy soils (compactness) and apply mulching if soybean is cultivated allows the accumulation of water in deeper on smaller fields and especially in the layers, i.e. reduces the risk of rapid land organic farming system. Mulching is the drying during the summer. covering of the soil with a protective layer, so-called mulch. Mulch is mainly Recommended practices and of organic origin (straw and other harvest technologies: residues, hay, compost, dry leaves). Soil • 10: As a result of plowing at the same depth protected with mulch requires less over many years, the hardpan or the plow watering, weed and fertilization; it dries sole can be formed. If there is frequent slowly, in the case of heavy rains it does abundant precipitation during spring, not become mud; it retains a loose, grain water cannot penetrate into the deeper structure. Organic mulches degrade over layers due to the hard and impermeable time, improve the quality of the soil and hadrpan, the soil is rapidly saturated, and stimulate the growth of plants. Mulching as a result, water persists on the surface reduces the need for pesticide use, and of the soil. To prevent waterlogging, use the growing crop has improved quality. the subsoilers to break the hardpan. When making a decision on the use of subsoiler, Cover crops consider the condition of soil moisture, the Using cover crops may help to reduce the depth of undermining (mole drainage), the impacts of heavy rainfall, floods and soil amount and type of the plant residues, the erosion. power of the tractor, and so on. Regular The cultivation of cover crops is a practice in such soils is to change the depth special way of overlaying the soil with of plowing every 3–5 year. growing plants and has the same benefits as those mentioned under mulching. Mulching Mulching helps to reduce the impacts of Recommended practices and heavy rainfall, floods, soil erosion, high technologies: temperatures and droughts. • 12: On sloping terrains exposed to larger Mulching is the practice of applying a amounts of winter precipitation, protect layer of material to the surface of the soil, the soil from surface erosion by growing usually organic material. It contributes cover crops. Sow cover crop after harvest especially to (1) the protection of soil from of forecrop, in late summer or at the surface erosion caused by larger amounts of beginning of autumn, and let them grow winter precipitation, especially on sloping all winter. Destroy cover crops with terrains, (2) improvement of the physical herbicide or by rolling, tillage or chopping properties of the land, (3) increased at least two-three weeks before sowing the retention and efficiency of available soil soybean. Then, sow soybean in narrow moisture and nutrients for crop production, strips or directly (no till). Use this practice and (4) the control of weed. only if the soil has suitable structure.

10 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

Variety selection • 18: Diversify the production of soybean by Variety selection is important for reducing using varieties of various morphological, the impacts of almost all natural hazards. physiological and productive traits (plant The choice of variety is a strategy for height, flowering time, number of pods, choosing from many varieties on the market seed mass, time of maturity). This allows, the one that has the appropriate adaptability in the case of reduced values of one trait to the agroecological conditions in the area that influences the reduction in yield, of cultivation and gives high yield and other traits to participate in the yield quality, i.e. enables the producer to make compensation, which ensures the stability a profit. Selection of seed / variety to be of the crop production. cultivated in the field has the greatest impact on yield stability, grain quality, and the Sowing economic value of production. Appropriate time and mode of sowing, as well as the seed density, contribute to Recommended practices and reduction of the impacts of almost all technologies: natural hazards. • 13: Use only certified seed. The sowing is the process of placing • 14: Follow the recommendations of the seeds in seedbed so that it may germinate. agricultural advisers on the selection of The sowing time and sowing density is modern varieties adapted to the conditions important as it can affect the plant’s biomass, of cultivation in certain regions. Also follow logging, the nutrients’ use efficiency, the time your own experience and experiences of of harvest as well as the yield. soybean producers from the region. • 15: In order to minimize the effects of Recommended practices and variation of agroecological factors, and in technologies: particular the effects of summer drought, • 19: Set the time of sowing to the moment cultivate varieties with broad adaptability when the soil temperature in the seedbed to different environmental factors and reaches 10 °C, which in our agroecological drought tolerance varieties. Also, focus conditions usually occurs at the end of attention on domestic varieties that were March or in the beginning of April. created by breeding in similar climate • 20: Set the depth of sowing to 3–5 cm. On conditions in which soybean production lighter soils, conduct deeper sowing, and takes place. on the harder more shallow. Take care that • 16: In Serbian regions with less precipitation, sowing is done at a uniform depth, as this such as Banat, Eastern Serbia and South ensures uniform emergence and uniform Serbia, choose for the sowing the varieties crop ripening. with the short vegetation period, belonging • 21: The sowing density for the varieties to the ripening groups 0 and 00, because in of soybeans of the I group of ripening critical periods they will not be exposed to should be set at about 450 000 plants per drought; they avoid drought. hectare, achieved by a distance between • 17: In the areas with stormy winds and rows of 45–50 cm and the distance of the the occurrence of hails grow varieties seed in the row of 4.5–5 cm. This spacing that are more resistant to lodging. between rows is optimal for our growing

11 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

conditions, as it ensures the proper plant • 24: In areas with abundant spring rainfall, canopy, appropriate development of plants pay attention that seed should not be sown and the soil cultivation between rows. For at a higher depth than recommended, as varieties of the II group of ripening, with this prolongs the period of germination long vegetation period, the recommended and emergence with the risk that many sowing density is slightly lower, about plantlets do not emerge. 400 000 plants per hectare. Varieties • 25: In areas with frequent occurrences of the 0 and 00 groups, with shorter of stormy winds, notice that seed should vegetation period, sow more dense, about not be sown at a lower depth than 500 000 plants per hectare. Regardless of recommended, as this reduces the root the variety being sown, avoid the denser system and increases the possibility sowing from the recommended (“in each of lodging. case”) because in too dense crop the plants • 26: When stressful conditions in the compete with one another, the stem is production of soybeans are expected, and elongated, thin, without lateral branches, when varieties of different ripening groups with a reduced number of pods and hence are sown in order to increase the security of with lower yield. crop production, first sow varieties with a • 22: When low temperatures and frosts are longer vegetation period. expected, do not perform sowing before • 27: In the years when drought is expected, the recommended time. The germination reduce the crop density by 5–10 percent. can be very slow, and the plantlets can be • 28: If natural disasters such as spring damaged from frost. floods have destroyed the soybean crop, • 23: In the production of soybeans in sow the soybeans again on the same plot, the areas with the occurrences of high using in the repeated sowing the varieties temperatures, be careful not to sow of the earlier ripening groups and taking soybean late. Too late sowing shortens the into consideration the application of soybean vegetation period, and because the herbicides. of the higher temperatures, soybean goes faster through the growth and development Intercropping phases, and thus reduces the yield. Intercropping can allow greater stability and

Sowing of soybean diversity of production, especially in years © Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia when several natural hazards occur and negatively affect agriculture. Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice involving growing two or more crops simultaneously.

Recommended practices and technologies: • 29: In years with stressful conditions, on smaller plots, apply intercropping of soybean and some other crop in order to increase the stability of crop of production. Soybean can be successfully

12 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA nttt fField and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia © Institute of

Seeder for soybean

combined with maize. There are two Recommended practices and methods of sowing in intercropping; one technologies: is in alternating rows of soybeans and • 30: Conduct soil analysis and determine other crop, and the other is in alternating the content of N, P and K before strips (several rows of soybean, and fertilization. The results of the analysis several rows of other crops). represent the basis for calculating the amount of nutrients required by the plants Fertilization to obtain the target yield. Optimal fertilization strengthens crops • 31: Apply N, P and K in autumn together and helps to reduce the impacts of with plough cultivation in a complete drought. Application of the optimal amount. Fertilization during sowing and rates of fertilizers in the optimal time during the plant growth does not has reduces the ‘nutrient leaching’ during the an appropriate economic effect, as the abundant precipitation. soybean, as already mentioned, requires Fertilization is the method of applying nitrogen for growth, which is mostly nutrients to help crops grow. The most provided by atmospheric nitrogen, due to important nutrients for plants are nitrogen the symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). If the available quantities of nitrogen in Fertilization changes the balance in the soil are large, the plant will opt for the competition between crops and weeds, use of that nitrogen, not atmospheric, and not only for nutrients, but also for other will not even symbiote with these bacteria resources. at all.

13 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

• 32: Prior to sowing, inoculate soybean crop and responds extremely well to seeds with microbiological agents the cultivation between rows. This is containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria to particularly expressed in unfavorable ensure their greater presence in the root conditions. Two cultivations are zone. The most known inoculation agent recommended, the first when the plants is Nitragin, which is supplied together have formed the first three-leaflet leaf, with soybean seeds. Nitragin is a mixture and the other before the closing of rows. of highly effective strains of bacterium • 35: Chemical weed control and protection Bradyrhizobium japonicum adapted to our soil of crops against diseases and pests and our soybean varieties. The application should be carried out with appropriate of Nitragin is at the same time ecologically agents (herbicides, pesticides). Base the the most acceptable way of bio-stimulation treatment of soybean on the knowledge of plant growth and bio-pesticidal effects of the history of the field about which on harmful organisms in the soil. weeds (Sorghum halepense, Cirsium arvense, Amaranthus retroflexus, Solanum nigrum, Weed and pest control Chenopodium album, Setaria glauca, Polygonum Control of weeds, pests and diseases is convolvulus) most often occur. Soybean especially important as a practice that is susceptible to the presence of weeds prevents stronger physiological attacks in the initial stages of growth, and on plants affected by lower temperatures, later, after the closing of plant rows, its abundant precipitation and droughts. coverage prevents the growth of weeds in Weeds compete with growing crops. the shade. What specific herbicide will be Pests are destructive organisms that applied and at what growth stage of plants attacks crops. Weeds, pests and causative depends on the crop condition and the agents of plant diseases interfere negatively frequency of weeds that are present in the with cultivated plants. For agricultural field. If good agricultural practices and producers, it is important to develop an technologies are respected, chemical weed adequate control strategy in order to get control will only be a corrective measure, healthy crops and have as little damage and this should be the tendency in the as possible. soybean production. • 36: Soybean is one of the rare cultivated Recommended practices and plants in our country where fungicides technologies: are not used, because for now, • 33: Develop a system of controlling fortunately, there are no economically weeds and pests by combining significant diseases in our environmental mechanical, agro-technical (crop conditions. rotation, crop density), biological and • 37: No pests are an economically chemical measures. significant problem in the production of • 34: Soil cultivation is the most important soybeans. The most significant pest is the mechanical measure of weed control. spider mite (Tetranychus atlanticus) whose In addition to this role, it contributes intense attack occurs in dry and very to the improvement of the growth warm years. Under such environmental conditions of crops. Soybean is a wide conditions, massive attack of spider

14 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

mite and significant damage to soybean Growth stage Water use fields can occur. Timely and high- (mm/day) quality soil tillage, weed destruction, Germination and 1.2 – 2.5 and irrigation are contributing to the seedling Rapid vegetative 2.5 – 5.0 reduction in the number of spider mite. growth If it is necessary to perform chemical Flowering to pod fill 5.0 – 7.5 treatment with appropriate agents, most (full canopy) often it is sufficient to apply them only Beginning of maturity 1.2 – 5.0 on the edges of the plot. to harvesting Source: Tacker P., Vories E. Arkansas Soybean Handbook. Chapter 8. Irrigation. www.uaex.edu Irrigation Irrigation helps to reduce the impact of period. It is best to irrigate according to the high temperatures, as well as soil and air water balance, i.e. to compensate to plants drought. the water spent by evapotranspiration. Irrigation is an artificial application •39: When irrigating, respect the rule of controlled amounts of water at needed that the irrigation norms must be intervals to the soil or plants to assist in appropriate. Soybean should not be the growth of agricultural crops. Irrigation irrigated with less than 30 mm, and even provides the optimum water supply for better is the irrigation norm of 50 mm. plants; it activates soil microorganisms and Smaller quantities of water and more nutrient reserves and contributes to a better frequent irrigations cannot give the utilisation of incorporated fertilisers. appropriate effect.

Recommended practices and Drainage technologies: Drainage primarily contributes to the mitigation of the impact of abundant •38: In order to achieve a high yield of precipitation and floods that are often soybean of the appropriate quality, it is associated with low temperatures and soil necessary that the plants are well provided erosion. with the required amount of water. As it Drainage is a measure of removing has already been highlighted, soybean does excess water from the soil surface and from not need water equal during the vegetation the root zone of the plants, which enables period, in some growth stages the needs better aeration and soil structure. for water are more pronounced and in the other less. Recommended practices and Every period in which a soybean plant technologies: suffers from a lack of water affects both • 40: Regularly maintain drainage channels yield and quality and can be considered and clean them from weeds and waste, in harmful. Therefore, irrigate the soybean order to allow undisturbed flow of surface when there is a need for it, and not only water and prevent flooding. in the so-called “critical phases”. In case • 41: Apply vertical tillage before ploughing of soybean, the critical periods in need for on the hard soils on which the surface water are flowering and pod / seed filling water retention occurs in the spring.

15 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA © Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field

Irrigation of soybean Soybean harvest

Harvesting Timely and appropriate harvesting helps to reduce the impact of heavy rainfall, stormy winds and hails, high temperatures, and drought. Harvesting is gathering a crop as a harvest. Harvesting is one of the most important processes in the agricultural production. When harvesting, all the failures that have been made during crop cultivation become obvious.

Recommended practices and technologies: • 42: Harvest the soybean when its seed moisture level is 13 percent. • 43: Adjust the harvesting mechanization (speed of combine, height of the cutter bar, header height and angle, cylinder/rotor speed and other) according to the conditions and maturity of the crop. Inadequate time of harvesting or improperly adjusted mechanization can reduce the already achieved yield by up to 20 percent.

16 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA

Summary

Due to its favorable chemical 13 percent moisture) provides favourable composition, soybean [Glycine max (L.) conditions for the correct development Merr.], with about 40 percent of proteins, of soybean crop, what is the prerequisite and about 20 percent of oil, is one of to reduce the impact of natural hazards the most important industrial crop in and to obtain high and stable yields. the world. Since the mid-seventies, Neglecting these basic requirements when it was first introduced in Serbia, in term of agricultural technology or the soybean cultivation area has slowly, reducing certain practice in soybean but steadily grown, and currently about cropping will inevitably lead to yield 200 000 ha are cultivated with soybean. losses. Finally, it is recommended that The average grain yield of soybean farmers consider the possibility of in Serbia is about 2.6 tonnes/ha, introducing the agricultural technologies but it varies depending on the agro- that are successfully applied around the ecological conditions. Generally, world to reduce the impact of natural the climate in Serbia is favorable for hazards, and that are not yet present soybean production, but natural hazards in our country on larger areas, such as: (e.g. droughts, floods) may cause stress conservation tillage, mulching, growing to the plant. An important step to cover crops, and intercropping. reduce the impact of these hazards is the selection of soybean variety, because each variety has specific strengths that can make it highly suited for a certain environment. In this regard, there is a number of domestic varieties, which are well adapted to the Serbian agroecological conditions. Additionally, the application of a system of good agricultural practices and technologies that encompasses proper crop rotation (with compete as а forecrop), basic soil tillage (depth 25–30 cm), vertical tillage with subsoiler on havy soils, sowing (certified seed, lower crop density in dry sessions), fertilization (complete amount of fertilizers in autumn), weed control (by combining preventive measures, especially crop cultivation), installation of irrigation systems, drainage, as well as timely harvesting (when seed contains

17 GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN SERBIA © Institute of© Institute Novi Sad, Serbia Crops, and Vegetable Field

18 Contact

The Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management http://www.minpolj.gov.rs/ Info center – Agriculture Address: Omladinskih brigada 1, 11070 Novi Beograd Phone: 011/260-7960, 011/260-7961, Fax: 011/260-7961 Email: [email protected]

The Republic of Serbia, Autonomous Province of , Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry http://www.psp.vojvodina.gov.rs Address: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 16, 21000 Novi Sad Phone: 021/487-4411, Fax: 021/456-040 Email: [email protected]

The Agricultural Extension and Technical Services of the Republic of Serbia https://www.psss.rs/ The Institute for Science Application in Agriculture Address: Bulevar Despota Stafana 68b, 11000 Beograd Phone: 011/275-1622, Fax: 011/275-2959 Email: : [email protected], [email protected]

Service Address Phone Email Bačka Glavna 103, 024/714-121 [email protected] 24000 Bačka Topola Kralja Petra I 49, 023/021-120 [email protected] 23300 Kikinda Novi Sad Temerinska 13, 021/478-0220 [email protected] 21000 Novi Sad Pančevo Novoseljanski put 33, 013/313-092 [email protected] 26000 Pančevo Željeznička 12, 0 2 2 / 4 7 2 - 7 4 9 [email protected] 22400 Ruma Poštanska 24, 024/813-391 [email protected] 24400 Senta

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20 Hajduk Veljkova 43, 027/329-418 [email protected] 18400 Prokuplje Zaječar Žikice Jovanovića 019/436-865 [email protected] Španca, 19000 Zaječar Knjaževac Knjaza Miloša 75, 019/730-888 [email protected] 19350 Knjaževac Slobodana Penezića bb, 015/788-3546 [email protected] 15300 Loznica P. Skela Industrijsko naselje bb, 011/887-1550 [email protected] 11213 Padinska Skela

The Plant Protection Prognostic and Reporting Service http://www.pissrbija.com/default.aspx

The Republic of Serbia, Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ Address: Kneza Višeslava 66, 11000 Beograd Phone: 011/305-0923, 011/305-0856, Fax: 011/305-0847 Email: [email protected]

21

With climate change, it is expected that natural hazards, such as floods, droughts, storms, will increase in frequency and severity. Agriculture is one of the most climate sensitive sectors. Natural hazards may cause yield reductions or even total crop failure. In this booklet good agricultural practices and technologies are described that help to reduce the impact of natural hazards in soybean production in Serbia, related to crop rotation, soil tillage, vertical tillage, mulching, growing cover crops, variety selection, sowing, intercropping, fertilization, weed and pest control, irrigation/drainage and harvesting. The booklet is intended for soybean producers, ministries and entities of Republic of Serbia, civil society, researchers/academics, agricultural extention services, and agricultural organizations. It has been developed as one of the outputs of the FAO project ‘Enhancement of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) capacities and mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) ppractices into the Agricultural Sector in the Western Balkans’ (TCP/RER/3504). I8850EN/1/06.21