The soybean industry could be set for a bright future after a study revealed the plant will respond well to predicted carbon-dioxide levels.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a study in the Journal of Environmental Quality which shows soybean thrives in an atmosphere with concentrated CO2.
Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service, a division of the USDA, compared how the plant reacts with current levels of CO2, which includes 370 parts per million (ppm), with estimated future levels of 720 ppm.
The study found that soybean photosynthesis increased by around 50 per cent, while transpiration (the amount of water released by plants) was reduced.
Farmers who extract oil from soya will welcome the news, as the plant looks set to flourish over the century.
The research also shows that the tillage method has a minimal effect on yields. No-till, which involves no ploughing and limited soil disturbance, was as effective as conventional tillage.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the soybean industry includes; Conveyors – screw conveyors – chain conveyors – belt conveyors
