Yield and uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus in soybean, pea, and lentil, and effects on soil nutrient supply and crop yield in the succeeding year in Saskatchewan, Canada

There is little information on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grown in western Canada despite its expanding acreage in this region. This study quantified the yield and uptake of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in three short-season soybean varieties (in 2014) and their impact on following wheat and canola crops, as well as soil nutrient supplies in 2015 in comparison to three pea and three lentil varieties at four sites in Saskatchewan. In 2014, soybean had comparable grain yield (929–3534 kg ha−1) and higher grain N (39–48 g kg−1) and P (5.1–6.8 g kg−1) concentrations compared with pea and lentil. In 2015, although soil N and P supplies showed some responses to different stubbles during the growing season, cumulative soil nutrient supplies were similar in soybean, pea, and lentil stubbles at the end of the season. Overall, soybean, pea, and lentil stubbles had similar impact on the yield and uptake of N and P in the wheat or canola crop grown in the subsequent year. The findings suggest promising potential for soybean production to achieve rotational benefits similar to other grain legumes grown under western Canadian soil–climatic conditions.