Abstract This study explores the impact of crop rotation and climate conditions on soybean yields over a decade at the Rimski Šančevi experimental station in Serbia. Five cropping systems were tested (2008–2017), including soybean monoculture and rotations with maize, winter wheat, and sugar beet, under various fertilization regimes. The highest average yield of 2.75 ± 0.20 t ha −1 was achieved in a fertilized 3-year crop rotation, while the lowest yield of 1.21 ± 0.13 t ha −1 was recorded in an unfertilized 3-year rotation. Rainfall in June had a strong positive correlation with yield ( r = 0.65, p < 0.01), while higher temperatures in August negatively impacted soybean yields ( r = −0.72, p = 0.05). Growing degree units (GDU) increase of 1 °C resulted in a decrease of 1.57 kg in soybean yield. A comparison of simple grain yield, Sustainable Yield Index (SYI), and yield stability showed contrasting results when evaluating soybean cropping systems. However, the multi-year growing systems outperformed the monoculture system. Regression analysis showed that rainwater use efficiency (RWUE) increases with higher soybean yields. These findings underscore the importance of crop rotation and fertilization in sustaining soybean productivity and highlight the challenges posed by climate variability, emphasizing the need for adaptive management strategies in soybean cultivation. To optimize soybean production, it is essential to adopt diverse cropping systems and a combination of chemical and organic fertilizers to ensure soil health and sustainable yields.
Šeremešıć et al. (Thu,) studied this question.