Influence of Cultural Practices on Soybean Nectar Production

Soybean nectar attributes to a large percentage of the nectar used in honey production in honeybee systems. The amount of nectar produced in each cultivar differs between those cultivars. Previous research has been done in the past to identify which certain cultivars produce the highest quantity of nectar. The objective of these tests were to identify which modern cultivars produced the highest amount of nectar based on a series of cultural mechanisms. Tests were conducted during the 2016 and 2017 growing season in the hills and delta region of Mississippi. The tests were also separated by planting date as well as being irrigated and nonirrigated. Flowers were pulled at peak nectar hours and weighed. After which the samples were centrifuged and placed in cold storage until analyzed by spectrophotometry. A number of varieties such as AG4633 and A5535 produced more amounts of sugar in the Hills region of Mississippi. Two varieties, AG3936 and AG3536, produced more in the Delta region. Average amounts of glucose was also observed to be in higher amounts in Hills region varieties, while average fructose is more abundant in Delta region varieties. A negative correlation between yield and total amounts of sugar was also observed.