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1998 Research Results
Extreme Pressure Metalworking Lubricating Oils and Greases from Soybeans
The objective of this two year project is to formulate application specific, soybean based oils and greases suitable for extreme pressure uses. The industrial applications include wire drawing/cold heading, broaching, deep drawing, metal can manufacture, hot forging, and glass bottle manufacturing. Typically, these applications are met by formulations containing mineral oils mid additives to impart extreme pressure performance: anti-oxidation, anti corrosion, and other performance properties. A 10 percent market penetration by soy based products would create a new, annual market for 15,000,000 bushels of soybeans. Phase I entails formulation by Desilube Technology Inc., and laboratory testing by both Desilube and a subcontractor. Phase II entails manufacture of sufficient quantities for field trials, full-scale field trials by major end-users and formulation re-tailoring to meet any additional end-user needs.
James P. King
Desilube Technology Inc.
Prediction of Amino Acid Profiles in Soybean Meal and Other Feed Ingredients: Genetic Algorithm Optimization of Artificial Neural Networks
Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were trained to predict the amino acid (AA) profiles of feed ingredients. Results of past projects (FY ’96, FY ’97) have shown that ANNs more effectively identify the complex relationship between nutrients and feed ingredients than does linear regression (I R). It was concluded from the FY ’97 project that the maximum R 2 value, a measurement of prediction ability, was highest when a General Regression Neural Network (GRNN) with Iterative calibration (GRNNIT) was used to train the ANN, as compared to LR, Ward backpropagation (WBP) or 3 Layer Backpropagation architectures (3BP).
The current study (FY ’98) investigated the potential of a new, advanced method of calibration termed the Genetic Algorithm. Calibration of an ANN makes it able to generalize well and give good results on new data.
In general, maximum R 2 values were higher when the GA calibration was used in comparison the LR or any of the architectures previously tested.
Genetic Algorithm calibration of GRNN architecture led to further improvements in ANN performance for AA level predictions in 26/28 cases studied. More accurate prediction of AA levels in SBM may result in higher inclusion of soybeans in livestock rations.
William B.Roush
Penn State University
Evaluation of Soybean Germplasm under Pennsylvania Conditions
The 1998 Pennsylvania Soybean Performance Report is also on the web at www.agronomy.psu.edu. Extension, industry and producers can access the data.
The variety and germplasm testing program was conducted at two locations Landisville in Lancaster County, and Rock Springs in Centre County. The Landisville site is used to evaluate material in Groups III and IV in full season and double-crop plantings. Maturity Groups II and early III are evaluated at Rock Springs. Yield, maturity, height, lodging, seed quality and seed size data was obtained for each location. Herbicide tolerant varieties (glyphosate RR and sulfonylurea STS) were tested in separate trials at both locations for full season and at Landisville for double crop plantings.
New tables were added to the 1998 report: Multiple year averages for full season performance of herbicide tolerant varieties planted at both test sites and the double crop results for herbicide tolerant varieties at the Landisville site.
In 1998, 90 private and 11 public varieties were evaluated in the full season test (which included 55 normal germplasm, 32 RR and 14 STS varieties) at the Landisville site. Fifty three private and 9 public varieties were evaluated in the full season test (which included 32 normal germplasm, 20 RR and 10 STS varieties) at the Rock Springs site. The double crop test at Landisville included 46 private and 12 public varieties (which included 33 normal germplasm, 16 RR, and 9 STS varieties).
The 1998 growing season was above normal for temperature; a killing frost did not occur until late October. The dry soil conditions in the second half of May and early June delayed planting at both locations. The rest of the growing season had periods of adequate precipitation followed by extended dry periods.
Elwood Hatley
Penn State University
Sclerotinia Stem Rot of Soybeans: Characterization of Physiological Resistance and Field Testing of Agronomic Control Measures.
Soybean producers with river valley fields have chronic problems with Sclerotinia white mold due to frequent episodes of fog. Fog provides the moisture needed for sporulation and disease development. Resistant soybean cultivars in the maturity groups commonly grown in Pennsylvania are scarce and fungicide treatments to control the disease are not cost effective. We cooperated with two farmers to test the effect of row spacing with low plant density on the incidence and severity of white mold. The two farms were located along the Susquehanna River at Muncy and Jersey Shore, Pa. Due to the drought, only the Muncy research site had enough white mold pressure to allow a valid test.
The row spacing treatments were 14 inches, 21 inches and 28 inches with plant density decreasing as row width increased. Row spacing had no effect on the incidence of white mold, but did significantly affect yield. Row spacing (also) had a significant effect on the position of white mold lesions on the plants.
Lesions were more often located on the main stem of plants in 14 inch rows and on petioles and side branches of plants in the wider row spacings. Main stem lesions often kill the plant whereas petiole and side branch lesions are rarely fatal. The increased yields from the wider rows, despite the reduced number of plants, may have been due to the nonlethal position of the white mold lesions on the plants grown in the wide row spacing. In addition to increasing yield, the 28 inch row spacing significantly reduced the amount of sclerotia harvested with the soybeans. Row spacing shows promise as a tool to reduce the severity of Sclerotinia white mold.
On July 25, at the Jersey Shore research site, we noted a small, circular patch of soybeans showing symptoms of sudden death syndrome (interveinal chlorosis and necrosis and upwards, longitudinal curling of the leaves), which is caused by Fusarium solani.
This is the first time sudden death syndrome has been found in Pennsylvania.
Barbara Pennypacker
Penn State University
Burcucumber Management in Soybeans and Corn Curran and Esbenshade
In 1998, three experiments were initiated. In the southeast region of the state, a tillage and soybean row spacing study and herbicide programs for a Roundup Ready STS soybeans were evaluated. In north central Pennsylvania, burcucumber control in IMI corn was assessed. And in central Pennsylvania, a burcucumber biology experiment was conducted. Here are some of the preliminary results from these experiments.
Tillage and row spacing study - In the tillage and row spacing study, a Roundup Ready STS soybean was planted in a no till and reduced tillage system in 15 and 30 inch rows. In general, burcucumber emergence did not follow rainfall events. Regardless of tillage system or row spacing, burcucumber emergence was greatest in early spring and tapered off to minimal emergence numbers by the beginning of July. Tillage did have an effect on the emergence of burcucumber, and although there was no difference in germination period of burcucumber in either tillage system, preplant tillage did increase the total number of emerged plants compared to the no till. There appears to be no benefit in changing row spacing to control burcucumber emergence.
Burcucumber control in Liberty Link corn - Row spacing had no effect on burcucumber control. Liberty by itself was ineffective in controlling burcucumber at either timing. Although Liberty had some effect on burcucumber early, it provided no residual control and allowed new weed emergence following the herbicide application. Liberty + atrazine effectively controlled burcucumber throughout the growing season.
Burcucumber control in Roundup Ready STS soybean - The herbicide programs employed Classic, Synchrony, Pinnacle, Roundup, Expert, Roundup + Classic, and Roundup + Expert. In general, all of the herbicide programs were fairly effective in controlling burcucumber. Due to the soybeans canopying early in the season, there was not much of a difference between application timings. The most consistent programs for control were Classic, Synchrony, Roundup, and Roundup + Classic.
Burcucumber control in IMI corn - Fifteen new and experimental herbicide programs were evaluated in IMI corn. The herbicide treatments included five pre emergence programs and 10 post emergence programs. The pre emergence herbicides used were: Balance, Balance + atrazine, Peak, and Princep + atrazine. The post emergence herbicides included: Lighting, Lightning + atrazine, Raptor, Synchrony, Synchrony + atrazine, Basis Gold, Basis Gold + Atrazine, Exceed, Exceed + atrazine, and Spirit. In general, the preemergence herbicides were ineffective. Lightning and Raptor were also ineffective post emergence. The remaining post emergence programs were effective. The addition of atrazine to these post emergence herbicides had little influence on their overall effectiveness.
Burcucumber biology experiment - An experiment examining the effect of burcucumber emergence date on burcucumber growth and seed production was established in central Pennsylvania. Burcucumber seedlings were grown in the greenhouse until they reached the one to two leaf stage. They were then transplanted into the field on approxomately 10 day intervals starting in mid to late May and ending in mid August in corn and a non crop environment. In late September, the burcucumber plants were harvested in order to determine the above ground biomass and seed production from each plant.
Burcucumber plants grown without the competition of the corn experienced, tremendous growth. Plant dry matter and seed production was greatest for the first transplanting date (May 26) and decreased for the transplantings thereafter. Although the number of seed generated was greatly reduced, burcucumber plants transplanted into the non crop environment as late as Aug. 14 were still able to produce seed. Burcucumber plants grown in corn only produced a fraction of the dry matter and seed of the plants grown in a non crop environment.
William Curran
John Yocum
Penn State University
Evaluation of Food Grade Soybean Varieties
In collaboration with Pennsylvania State University, a replicated trial was established at Rodale Institute Experimental Farm to study the influence of planting date, seeding rate and rotary hoeing frequency on weeds in the food grade soybean variety, HP 204. All treatments exhibited weed biomass of less than 300 lb/A, well within acceptable levels for organic food grade soybean production. No significant differences in soybean yield were noted among treatments, probably because of low weed pressures.
Three food grade varieties — Vinton 81, HP 204 and Iowa 3001 — were compared to a feed variety, Ploneer 9352 on each of four farms in Pennsylvania. Organic techniques were used to produce beans on three of the farms. The fourth farmer used a modified no till management scheme. No significant differences among food grade varieties were noted. Food grade beans produced on all four farms were of good quality with high protein levels as well as soymilk and tofu yields equal to those of the industry standard, Vinton 81, produced in the Midwest. On farm field days were held on two of the farms participating in the variety trials. In addition, three informational handouts were produced and distributed during field days and other Rodale Institute-sponsored workshops.
Laurie Drinkwater
Rodale Institute
Soybean Response to Nitrogen Fertilization in Conservation Tillage: Effect of Planting Date and Nitrogen Timing
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the response of soybeans to nitrogen fertilization and the interactions between nitrogen fertilization rate and timing and soybean planting date and tillage system.
Soybeans were planted in minimum and no till at two locations (Centre and Lancaster Counties) on two dates (early and mid season). Four nitrogen treatments were applied (30, 60, 90, 120 lb N/A). The N treatments were applied at two times, near seeding and at soybean growth stage V3.
Based on the conditions in one growing season at two locations, there appears to be little beneficial effect of adding nitrogen fertilizer to soybeans. The tillage system and planting date did not effect this result. However, this work did confirm the benefits to early planting of soybeans and indicated that soybeans could be successfully grown using either conventional or no tillage practices. At least one more year of data is needed confirm that these results are not an artifact ofthe particular growing season.
Douglas Beegle
John Yocum
Penn State University
Functionality Maps for Soy Protein Ingredients
By additional processing steps, the intermediate users of soy make a more valuable ingredient from the raw beans. Frequently the added value which an ingredients supplier sells is functionality. This is particularly true for the range of soy protein isolates (SPIs) available commercially. An important ways SPIs provide functionality to foods is to thicken liquid foods (e.g., sauces, infant formulations) as well as being used as foods in their own right (e.g. tofu, vegetarian meat analogs).
To a great extent the functionality provided by the isolate depends on its manufacture and usage conditions, and, in order to find a successful application, the food processor must be able to predict how the ingredient offered for sale will behave in his specific manufacturing process.
The focus of this work is to provide a clear guide to the functionality of soy protein isolates as gelling/thickening agents used by food manufacturers.
John Coupland
Penn State University
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