Edamame Production Practices and Potassium Physiology in China

Edamame Production Practices and Potassium Physiology in China Zhang Qiuying Li Yansheng Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences June 19, 2018

Outline Brief Introduction Practices in South China Practices in North China Practices in Northeast China Potassium and Yield/Quality Potassium Physiology Concluding Remarks

Introduction Edamame is the Japanese name for green vegetable soybeans that are immature, green form of edible soybeans collected at R6- R7 stages

Introduction Differ from grain soybeans by being larger-seeded milder-tasting more tender more digestible higher percentage of sucrose rich source of vitamin A, carbohydrates, protein and iron It is more nutritious than vegetable green peas.

Introduction As early as 1620, the Chinese people started to plant Edamame Now China is the largest production, consumption and export country of vegetable soybean in the world. China s export of frozen Edamame accounted for 52% of the world s total frozen vegetable soybean export in 2015

Introduction Although we have a long history of Edamame cultivation, its production was in a state of farmer s subsistence before 1970s. Since 1980s, Edamame cultivars were introduced from Taiwan, and Japan, and scientists started to pay more attention to breeding cultivars adapted to different ecological regions.

Introduction 1999-2014, 53 varieties were released in China 2010-2014, 5 varieties were released in Northeast China, among them, 2 varieties were released by my group The average annual sowing acreage is 400,000ha, with average yield of 5 t/ha.

Introduction Because edamame is a low input, high nutritional value, short crop cycle, and soil-enriching crop offers quick economic return and higher profit than grain soybean The Chinese government encourages farmers to plant Edamame However most production of Edamame are produced by smallscale farms

Soybean Production Distribution Northeast spring soybean region (50%) 40 N summer soybean region (35%) 30 N South multiple cropping soybean region 20 N

South multiple cropping region South multiple cropping region is the major Edamame producer in China, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Fujian Provinces

Production practices in South China Varieties In this region Edamame are planted from February to August, thus varieties could be divided into spring and summer or fall Edamame, based on planting dates. Fresh vegetable soybean can supply market 7 months a year in Yangtze River Basin

Production practices in South China Spring Edamame This is the main type of Edamame in the region, where Edamame are planted from February to early April. Fresh pods are harvested from May to the end of June. Spring edamame are widely adapted, short-period growing and photoinsensitive, some of them could also be planted in summer and fall.

Production practices in South China Summer/fall Edamame Summer Edamame are planted after winter crops, while fall Edamame are planted after early rice. In general, those varieties are planted in the middle of July to early August. Fresh pods are harvested in the early October until early November. Summer/fall Edamame are photo-sensitive, and thus early planting will not result in early harvest.

Production practices in South China Planting patterns: Depending on the farmers land acreage, planting patterns vary The general patterns are ----monoculture ----intercropping ----field footpath cultivation ----high tunnel ----protected culture

Production practices in South China Intercropping: Spring Edamame are usually intercropped with wheat, cotton, cane, faba and spring corn Summer/fall Edamame are intercropped with cotton, corn, peanut, sweet potato or other vegetables and fruits (grapevine)

Production practices in South China Field footpath cultivation: Edamame cultivation in the footpath of rice field (levee/rand cultivation) was the traditional way of Edamame cultivation in Southern China It was recorded that this practice started since 1441

Production practices in South China Field footpath cultivation: Footpath of rice field supplies sufficient light, nutrients and water, thus fine plant development and higher yield. Now less footpath cultivation is available, because of herbicide application and fewer labor.

Production practices in South China High tunnel cultivation: direct seeding and transplanting Seed selection: over 98% purity, 95% germination rate for Planting Edamame seeds when temperature at 5-cm soil depth is around 8 Transplanting seedlings to field when simple primary leaves are fully expanded

Production practices in South China Effects of seedling ages on yield and yield components Seedling age (day) Days to flowering Days of whole growth period Plant height (cm) Branch No. Internode No. Pod number per plant Pod weight per plant 10 60 95 49 3 9 31 61.6 15 58 93 46 3 9 30 59.0 20 54 90 40 3 8 21 42.0 25 50 90 32 3 8 13 25.6 30 48 88 28 3 7 8 17.2 For transplanting, seedling ages from 10-15 days not only harvest pod earlier but also higher yield, while seedling age over 20 days reduced pod number and yield

Production practices in South China Comparison between direct seeding and transplanting at different patterns Planting pattern Treats Days to flower Day of whole growth period Plant height (cm) Branch No Internode No. Pod No Per plant Pod weight/ Plant (g) High tunnel Field cultivati on Direct seeding 75 96 52 3 9 26 53.1 Transplanting 70 90 40 3 6 18 37.0 Direct seeding 54 88 48 3 9 43 87.1 Transplanting 49 81 36 3 6 39 83.6 At same planting date, transplanting flowers earlier and shortens growth period, harvests earlier and sale earlier due to restricted vegetative growth and accelerated reproductive transformation.

Production practices in South China Plastic film mulching is popular in this region to control weed, and for earlier sale

Production practices in South China Key pointers for field cultivation: Soil and Preceding Crop Well-drained and fertile soil is preferred. Do not chose sunflower as the preceding crop because of the frequent infection of soybean Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Corn is the best preceding crop due to high fertilization rates.

Production practices in South China Seedbed preparation: 1.8 m seedbed width with row spacing 25-30 cm, 6 rows in each bed Fertilization: Compost 15-30 t/ha, NPK compound fertilizer 300kg/ha after seedbed establishment Applying urea of 150 kg/ha and potassium chloride of 75 kg/ha at three trifoliate stage

Production practices in South China Planting density: 120,000 hills/ha 2 seedlings for each hill Plant No. per hill Hill No/ha Branch No. Pod No. per plant Pod weight per plant 3-seed pod 2-seed pod 1-seed pod ton/ha 1 120000 4 42 83.6 11 27 4 10.03 2 120000 3 26 55.8 7 21 4 12.18 3 90000 2 15 27.8 4 9 3 7.51 4 90000 2 11 19.1 2 6 3 8.10

Production practices in South China Weed control: For direct seeding soybean, spray herbicide acetochlor before emergence or Foliar spray haloxytop-r-methyl 750 ml/ha+bentazone 2250 ml/ha at four- trifoliate stage Annual gramineous, broad leaf and perennial grasses including barnyad grass, green bristle grass, siberian cocklebur, dodder weed

Production practices in South China Disease control: Foliar spray 25% Triadimefon or 58% Metalaxyl mancozeb to control soybean blight, rust, and powdery mildew

Production practices in South China Insect pest control: Foliar spray deltamethrin to control aphid and 21% synergistic fenvalerate malathion to control pod borer. Weed and pest are controlled by herbicide and pesticide pod borer aphid

Production practices in North China Edamame rotated with fresh corn and Chinese cabbage is the common practice in Shandong Province, North China This is a year around production system Edamame is planted in the middle of March, and harvested in the early June Fresh corn is then planted after Edamame, and harvested in the middle of August The Chinese cabbage is planted in the late August, and harvested in early November

Production practices in North China Early and cold resistant varieties are recommended Fertilization: 25-30 t/ha manure, NPK compound fertilizer of 375-450kg/ha Seedbed: width 1 m,height 10-15 cm Population: row space 30-35 cm,hill distance 15-20 cm Planting depth: 3 cm

Production practices in North China Spraying herbicide after planting and then cover plastic film. Thinning each hill for 2 seedlings when plants are in the 3- trifoliate stage Plowing twice to increase soil temperature Irrigating twice at pod-setting stage Spraying 2%-3% calcium superphosphate or potassium dihydrogen phosphate For avoiding yellow leaf, occasionally plant ash is sprayed on the leaf surface.

Production practices in Northeast China Edamame is commonly produced with row spacing of 65cm wide in Northeast China

Production practices in Northeast China Spring varieties are usually planted in early May, and harvested in the late August Available varieites are CAS No.1, CAS No.2, CAS-117, CAS-1024 and Tai 292 Rotation with corn is practiced with planting population of 250,000 plants/ha Planting depth is critical for emergence, 3-cm or less is preferred

Production practices in Northeast China Fertilization: 15 t/ha cattle manure, 150 kg/ha diammonium phosphate and 50 kg/ha urea at seeding is the common practice. Potassium sulphate 120 kg/ha at seeding and foliar spray of 4.5 kg/ha potassium after flowering is strongly recommended for Edamame production in this region Why potassium?

IGA Pottasium Nutrient One of the major mineral nutrients for plant growth (quality & yield) Physiological attributes Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

IGA Pottasium Nutreint physiological functions 1. Enzyme activation 2. Protein synthesis 3. Photosynthesis 4. Osmoregulation 5. Phloem transport 6. Energy transfer 7. Cation-anion balance 8. Stress resistance 9. Plant growth and composition Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Potassium and fresh pod yield µ ÖêÏʼÔÖØ g/öê fresh pod weight per plant 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 c a bc ab a a c c ÎÞÒ Åç Ò Åç 20 0 K0 K1 K2 K3 K application increased yield and highest yield was only achieved at 120 kg K/ha not at 180 kg/ha.

Potassium and sucrose content ÕáÌǺ Á (mg/g) Sucrose content ÕáÌǺ Á (mg/g) Sucrose content 60 50 40 30 20 10 60 50 40 30 20 10 121K0 121K1 121K2 121K3 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 ëK0 ëK1 ëK2 ëK3 ª» ºó ÖÜÊý Weekss after flowering 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 ª» ºó ÖÜ Êý Weeks after flowering Our investigation with different K application rates indicated K application enhanced sucrose content but highest sucrose content was only achieved at 120 kg K/ha not at 180 kg/ha. Sucrose content under different K application rate

Potassium and total soluble sugar 120 ÉÈÜÐÔ Ü ÌÇ º Á (g/kg) Soluble sugar content 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 ëK0 ëK1 ëK2 ëK3 ÉÈÜÐÔ Ü ÌÇ º Á (g/kg) Soluble sugar content 100 80 60 40 20 121K0 121K1 121K2 121K3 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 ª» ºó ÖÜ Êý Weeks after flowering 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 ª» ºó ÖÜÊý Weeks after flowering We got the similar results for soluble sugar content with highest content at 120 kg K/ha not at 180 kg/ha. This means that application of certain rate K is an approach for vegetable soybean production

IGA Seed sucrose accumulation c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2014 c.v.121 2014 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2015 c.v.121 2015 Sucrose content (mg g -1 DW) 40 30 20 10 K0 K1 K2 0 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 Weeks after flowering 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 K fertilization increased sucrose content in vegetable soubean seed (K2>K1>K0). The highest sucrose content was found at 7 weeks after flowering (R6 stage). Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

IGA Changes of SPS activity SPS activity (μmol sucrose h -1 g -1 FW) 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2014 c.v.121 2014 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2015 c.v.121 2015 K0 K1 K2 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 Weeks after flowering 4 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SPS activity may be one of the limiting factors for sucrose formation (Huber, 1982). Elevated SPS activity under K fertilization in vegetable soybean seed likely contributed to the increase in sucrose accumulation. Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

SS decompesition direction activity (μmol g -1 h -1 ) SS synthesis direction activity (μmol g -1 h -1 ) IGA Changes of SS activity 600 500 400 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2014 c.v.121 2014 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2015 c.v.121 2015 K0 K1 K2 300 200 100The response of SS activity in cultivars affected by K fertilization was different. SS played important roles for the balance of sucrose in plant sink tissues (Koch, 1992; 0 Zrenner, 1995; Chen, 2012). c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2014 c.v.121 2014 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2015 C.V.121 2015 600 K0 K1 K2 400 200 0 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Weeks after flowering 4 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

NI activity (μmol g -1 h -1 ) AI activity (μmol g -1 h -1 ) IGA Changes of invertase activity c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2014 c.v.121 2014 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2015 c.v.121 2015 300 K0 K1 K2 200 100 0 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2014 c.v.121 2014 c.v.zhongkemaodou 1 2015 c.v.121 2015 300 K0 K1 K2 200 100 0 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 Weeks after flowering Inv activity was less sensitive under K treatments in vegetable soybean seed. K fertilization decreased Northeast invertase Institute activity of Geography at 4 weeks and after Agroecology, flowering Chinese (R5 stage). Academy of Sciences

IGA Changes of net activities Net Activity = (SPS + SS synthesis) (AI+NI+SS decomposition) Sucrose synthetic direction activity (μmol sucrose h -1 g -1 FW) c.v. Zhongkemaodou 1 2015 c.v. 121 2014 c.v. 121 2015 K fertilization 700 generally influenced the activities of synthesis direction more than that c.v. Zhongkemaodou 1 2014 c.v. Zhongkemaodou 1 2015 c.v. 121 2014 c.v. 121 2015 Sucrose decomposition direction activity (μmol sucrose h -1 g -1 FW) 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 600 The net 500 activity of sucrose metabolism was toward to sucrose synthesis direction with 400 seed development. 300 200 100 c.v. Zhongkemaodou 1 2014 of decomposition direction. K0 K1 K2 1000 800 c.v. Zhongkemaodou 1 2014 c.v. Zhongkemaodou 1 2015 c.v. 121 2014 c.v. 121 2015 Net activity (μmol sucrose h -1 g -1 FW) 600 400 200 0-200 -400 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Weeks after folwering

IGA Correlation between the net activity of sucrosemetabolism key enzymes and sucrose content 40 2014 c.v. Zhongkemaodou 1 40 2015 Sucrose content 30 R=0.724** 20 10 0-0.2 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 2014 40 c.v. 121 30 R=0.873** 20 30 20 10 0-0.2 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 40 30 20 R=0.785** R=0.625** 2015 There was a significant positive correlation between net activity of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes and sucrose content. The slope of c.v. 121 was larger than that of c.v. Zhongkemaodou 1, indicating that the key enzymes activity of sucrose metabolism was more efficient in c.v. 121. 10 10 0-0.2 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0-0.4-0.2 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 Net activity of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

IGA Summary Increased sucrose content by k fertilization in vegetable soybean seed are due to increased SPS and SS activity but decreased Inv activity. K fertilization also increased net activity of sucrose metabolizing enzymes which is always regarded as an important factor maintaining sucrose content in sink tissue. Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

IGA Summary K foliar application might benefit the source or transport tissues which caused sink tissue to accumulate more sucrose. We suggest that K fertilization stimulated the net activity of sucrose metabolism toward the synthesis direction, and then enhanced the capability of sucrose storage in vegetable soybean. Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Pottasium and hormones Potassium application on phytohormones dynamics in seed Reduced ABA content by potassium application is conducive to the accumulation of sucrose in vegetable soybean seed

Concluding Remarks China is the largest production, consumption and export country of vegetable soybean in the world. Most of the Edamame is produced in southern China by smallscale farms. Main planting patterns are monoculture, intercropping, protected culture and film plastic mulching. Crop rotation is recommended for taste quality and fresh pod yield.

Concluding Remarks Transplanting and high tunnel can have higher yield and early sale. Compost or manure application is essential for edamame production. Potassium fertilizer is strongly recommended for yield and sucrose content.

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