SPRAYABLE BIO-BASED POLYMER CONSERVED SOIL-WATER, ENHANCED SOYBEAN GROWTH, MODERATED SOIL TEMPERATURE, INCREASED SOIL ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT AND REDUCED GIANT FOXTAIL [SETARIA FABERI HERMM.] DENSITY AND BIOMASS

The performance and impacts of the sprayable and degradable bio-based polymer (BBP), which was prepared from renewable materials such as poultry feathers and low-grade woody biomass, on soil health (quality); weed germination, growth, and pressure; soil temperature; soil-water; soil organic matter content (SOMC), nitrogen content; and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) productivity was investigated. The treatments included soybean+weed. with and without BBP applications. The weed was giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Hermm.). The soil-water content was up to 13 mm higher (p<0.05) in BBP treatments than in the control, indicating the soil-water conservation effect of BBP. The BBP application did not negatively affect soybean emergence; soybeans in both BBP and control treatments emerged on the same day. However, weed emergence was delayed by 3-5 days in the BBP treatment compared with the control. The soil temperature in the control was 3°C to 6.7°C greater than the BBP treatment’s soil temperature, indicating the temperature moderation effect of the BBP during extreme conditions, especially in hot and dry summer periods. Soybean dry matter and height with BBP application were significantly greater, and the weed count was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that without BBP. Soybean dry matter with the BBP application was 32% greater (p<0.05) than that without the BBP application (control). The BBP application reduced the variation in weed count and weed dry matter production by 78% and 67%, respectively. The average plant height for the BBP-applied plants was 821 mm, whereas it was 691 mm for the control. Average weed dry matter with BBP application was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that without BBP application. The plots with BBP application had significantly (p<0.05) lower weed numbers (18.3 weeds per plot) than those without BBP application (47.3 weeds per plot). The BBP application significantly increased soil organic matter and nitrogen content compared with the control throughout this experiment. This initial research indicated that BBP can provide beneficial conditions for plant growth and production while partially controlling S. faberi weed.