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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.

Despite the economic importance of the effects of weeds on the plastochron and emission of nodes of soybean plants, it has not been studied in detail. The aim of this study was to provide information about the effects of weeds on the development of soybean plants by determining the plastochron and number of nodes of soybean plants of different cultivars sown at different times in soils with presence and absence of weeds. A field study was conducted during the 2013/2014 crop season including a phytosociological survey to identify the occurring weeds, and the determination of the plastochron and final number of nodes of soybean plants. Four botanical families of weeds were found infesting the soybean crops. The plastochron and final number of nodes of soybean were influenced by the cultivar, sowing time, and presence of weeds. The plastochron was higher when the plants were grown in the presence weeds due to the higher relative frequency, relative density, relative abundance, and importance value index of the Euphorbia heterophyla, Ipomoea purpurea, and Urochloa plantaginea species, which resulted in a slower development of the soybean plants, and lower number of nodes per plant.

The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in soybean secondary metabolism and soybean yield components when subjected to coexistence periods with volunteer corn and established horseweed (Conyza spp.) regrowth. Two field experiments were conducted in the agricultural years 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 at Passo Fundo University, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Experiment I was conducted in the agricultural year 2015/2016 in order to establish periods of coexistence between soybean and corn. The treatments consisted of two soybean densities in the main plots (175,000 and 350,000 plants ha-1) and different periods of coexistence between soybean and corn in the subplots. Experiment II was conducted in the agricultural year of 2016/2017 in order to investigate the interference of regrowth horseweed during coexistence periods with soybean. The total phenols, flavonoids, saponins, soybean yield components and seed yields were evaluated. Volunteer corn that initiates growth after the V4 soybean stage and horseweed regrowth during cultivation do not adversely affect secondary metabolism, seed yield or soybean yield components.

Soybean cultivars without tolerance can suffer injury from exposure to tank herbicide residues. This study aimed at assessing the potential effects of the broad spectrum herbicide dicamba on sensitive soybean during its vegetative and reproductive stages. The trial was performed in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Six rates (1.4, 2.8, 5.6, 11.2, 16.8 and 28.0 g ae ha-1) of dicamba were applied at two soybean growth stages (V3 and R2). The soybeans were planted in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul state in 2015/16 agricultural year. The dicamba induced symptoms of soybean phytotoxicity showed a steady rise at all the assessment times. The soybean decreased in height as the subdose of the herbicide increased. Dicamba was observed to negatively affect the number of nodes alone, during the V3 and R2 stages. The grain yield was adversely affected at the 28.0 g ae ha-1 subdose, in the V3 application stage, and in response to the 16.8 and 28.0 g ae ha-1 subdoses in the R2 stage.