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Despite its economic importance, the microclimate in soybean canopies has not yet been studied in detail. Such a study can yield valuable information regarding the interaction of a crop with its environment. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the solar radiation dynamic and yield responses for each canopy strata for two soybean cultivars with determined and undetermined growth habits. A field study was conducted during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 growing seasons in the city of Frederico Westphalen, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The cultivar NA6411, with a determinate growth habit, presented a greater interception of radiation in the middle and lower canopies strata which results in higher soybean yield when compared to the cultivar TEC6029, and thus, can be recommended for cultivation in crop production systems. The contribution of the middle and upper canopy strata to the total yield formation was greater than that observed in the lower canopy strata due to the greater interception of solar radiation by these strata. To increase soybean yields, new studies regarding the microclimatic conditions of the soybean canopy should be developed to improve the maximum potential yield of the new soybean cultivars.

The use of modeling is a trend for agronomic science that aims to detect factors that could limit the growing practices and influence the potential yield of some crops. The objective of this study was to calculate the accumulated thermal time and estimate the phenological stages length of three soybean cultivars in two crop years, using agronomic models associated to meteorological variables. Two experiments were conducted in a field at the Agroclimatology Laboratory (LAGRO) of the Federal University of Santa Maria/UFSM, campus of Frederico Westphalen/RS, Brazil during the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 crop years. A randomized block in a factorial scheme 6x3 with six spatial arrangements (45, crossed, 20, 20x40, 20x60 and 20x80 cm) and three cultivars with different cycles and growth habits (BMX Ativa RR/determinate, BMX Turbo RR/indeterminate and BMX Potência RR/indeterminate) with three replications were used for the experimental design. Sowing was held on 11/28/2012 and 12/02/2013. The assessed phenological stages were sowing-emergence; emergence – final vegetative; final vegetative – full bloom; full bloom – physiological maturity. The duration of each stage was related to meteorological parameters: maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature, rainfall, solar radiation, and thermal time. Air temperature influences soybean growth and development. The accumulated thermal time varies between years and among cultivars, and it is the main contributor to the estimated duration of the phenological stages.