Soybean Yield Potential—A Genetic and Physiological Perspective

Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yields in the USA have risen 22.6 kg ha −1 yr −1 from 1924 to 1997, but in the last quarter century (1972–1997) have risen 40% faster, 31.4 kg ha −1 yr −1 This upward trend in on‐farm yield is fueled by rapid producer adoption of technologies emerging from agricultural research. Published estimates of the annual gain in yield attributable to genetic improvement averaged about 15 kg ha −1 yr −1 prior to the...