Elevated carbon dioxide levels may increase yield, but can also reduce soybean protein content, which negatively affects its nutritional value.
Climate change has significant effects on soybean yield and quality due to its sensitivity to changes in temperature, precipitation, and carbon dioxide levels.
High temperatures can reduce flowering and pod development, resulting in lower yields and decreased protein and oil content. Drought and excess rain can limit water availability and reduce yield and quality.
Elevated carbon dioxide levels may increase yield, but can also reduce soybean protein content, which negatively affects its nutritional value. In summary, while increased carbon dioxide levels may partially offset some negative impacts, climate change expected to have an overall negative impact on soybean yield and quality.
Soybean (Glycine max) is an important crop worldwide, with a long history of cultivation dating back to ancient China. It is a major source of protein and oil, with various applications in the food, animal feed, and biofuel industries.
The United States, Brazil, Argentina, and China are the leading producers of soybeans, accounting for more than 80% of global production. Soybeans are typically grown in warm, humid climates and require a growing season of 90 to 150 days.
Soybean oil is widely used for cooking, as well as in the production of a wide range of food products, such as margarine, mayonnaise, and salad dressings. In addition to food, soybean has numerous industrial applications. Soybean meal, which is the byproduct of soybean oil production, is an important ingredient in animal feed, providing a cost-effective source of protein for livestock.
The use of soybeans as a source of biofuels has also gained increasing attention in recent years as a potential solution to the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Several key factors affect soybean growth and yield including temperature, precipitation, and carbon dioxide levels.
Other important factors include soil type, nutrient availability, disease and pest pressure, and planting density and timing. Temperature is a critical factor in soybean growth and development. . Elevated CO2 levels can increase the rate of photosynthesis and improve plant growth, which may lead to increased soybean yields.
However, high CO2 levels can also reduce the protein content of soybeans, which negatively influences their nutritional value. Increased CO2 concentration can lead to increased photosynthesis and growth, which can ultimately increase soybean yields.
A study published in the journal Global Change Biology in 2016 found that soybean protein content decreased by an average of 7.9% in response to elevated CO2 levels. This reduction in protein content can have negative implications for both animal and human nutrition, particularly in developing countries where soybean is an important source of protein.
Studies have found that elevated CO2 levels can reduce the protein content of soybeans by up to 20%, depending on the variety and growing conditions. High temperatures during critical growth stages can reduce flowering and pod development, ultimately leading to lower yields and decreased protein and oil content.
Several important research directions that could build on the current understanding of the effects of elevated CO2 concentration and temperature on soybean yield and quality: Investigating the interactive effects of multiple environmental stressors: While much of the research has focused on the individual effects of elevated CO2 and temperature, there is a need to investigate the combined effects of multiple stressors on soybean yield and quality. . Future research could investigate the long-term impacts of elevated CO2 concentration on soil quality and the potential feedbacks between soil quality and soybean yield and quality.