DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hx3ffbgrk
title: Data from: Soybean yield response to management practices (4–40 years) and soil health parameters

description: Context or problem: The associations among soil health, management
 practices, and environmental conditions are complex, and research often
 focuses on specific practices or regional contexts. This have led to
 varying results regarding which soil health parameters are most
 influential for soybean yield. Objective: In this study, we investigated
 the effects of soil health measurements, agricultural management practices
 (4 - 40 years), inherent soil properties, location-specific factors, and
 soil fertility analytical results on soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) seed
 yield. Methods: Soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected in 2023 from 17
 agricultural research trials across the US. Soil health measurements,
 inherent soil properties, and soil fertility analytical results were
 assessed. Field management history and yield data were reported by the
 collaborators, and publicly available weather data (precipitation and
 temperature) were retrieved. Conditional inference trees were used to
 identify soybean yield influential factors. Results: Soybean seed yield
 was mainly driven by planting date. Trials planted before 26 May averaged
 4,809 kg ha⁻¹, 55% greater yields than planting after 26 May (2,649 kg
 ha⁻¹). Longitude, along with soil organic carbon (SOC), autoclaved citrate
 extractable N (ACE-N), and soil test potassium (STK) were also important
 factors explaining yield variability. Conclusions: Our results
 demonstrated that planting date was the most critical factor driving
 soybean seed yield, yet yield responses are modulated to a lesser extent
 by longitude, SOC, ACE-N, and STK. Implications: To optimize soybean
 yield, conservation practices should prioritize early planting and soil
 health improvement. These findings can help identify soil health
 parameters associated with soybean seed yield for future long-term
 research.
description: # Data from: Soybean yield response to management practices (4–40 years)
 and soil health parameters Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.hx3ffbgrk](10.5061/dryad.hx3ffbgrk) ## Description of the
 data and file structure This study used soil samples (0–15 cm depth)
 collected in 2023 from 349 plots across 17 agricultural research trials
 (ranging from 4 to 40 years in duration) in seven U.S. states-Arkansas,
 Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The
 aim of this study was to evaluate the association of management practices,
 soil health parameters, inherent soil properties, location-specific
 factors, and soil fertility analytical results on soybean seed yield. ###
 Files and variables #### File: SeveroSilvaEtal_FCR_Dryad.xlsx
 **Description:** This dataset contains two tabs within a single Excel
 file: ##### Variables * **readme**: Provides descriptions of all variables
 in the dataset. * **data**: Contains plot-level information on agronomic
 management field histories, soil health measurements, inherent soil
 properties, weather variables, soil fertility analytical results, and
 soybean seed yield data from the 17 field trials used in this study. ##
 Code/software Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet software is needed to
 view this data. ## Access information Data was derived from the following
 sources: * Generated data in a laboratory * Daymet * Web Soil Survey ##
 Version changes **10-sep-2025:** Added a column (P) with the cover crop
 species for the trials that included cover crops in
 SeveroSilvaEtal_FCR_Dryad.xlsx.