Soybean is an important crop for human food and feed for livestock. World soybean production is increasing especially in North and South America. Soybean seeds contain a high percentage of protein about 35–40%, and they require a large amount of nitrogen compared with other crops. Soybean plants make root nodules with rhizobia, and rhizobia can fix atmospheric N2 and give the fixed N to the host soybean plants. Also, soybean can absorb nitrogen usually nitrate from soil or fertilizers. The amount of total assimilated nitrogen in shoot is proportional to the soybean seed yield either from nitrogen fixation or from nitrogen absorption, and the nitrogen availability is very important for soybean cultivation. Maintenance of a high and long-term nitrogen fixation activity is very important for a high production of soybean. However, application of chemical nitrogen fertilizers usually depresses nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. Nitrate in direct contact with a nodulated part of roots causes severe inhibition of nodule growth and nitrogen fixation, although a distant part of nodules from nitrate application gives no or little effect. Deep placement of slow-release nitrogen fertilizers, coated urea, or lime nitrogen promoted the growth and seed yield and quality of soybean without depressing nitrogen fixation.

The international journal of Aerosol and Air Quality Research (AAQR) covers all aspects of aerosol science and technology, atmospheric science and air quality related issues.

The optimal design of a subsoiler implement is a complex work that includes optimal design, material properties, structural reliability, random variables, soil properties, soil tillage equipment, and optimum safety measures. The main objectives of this study were to design and simulate the deep placement fertilizer applicator (DPFA) by using the finite element method (FEM). FEM simulation software was used to select the optimum material properties and improve the safety factor by considering a range of loads on DPFA. Three applied forces in a static simulation (4500, 5000 and 6000 N) were considered as were three application depths of fertilizers (0.15, 0.20, and 0.25 m), to improve the safety measures of the design. The simulation results showed that the best material property for DPFA is the AISI 4135 QT carbon steel materials. This yields a high strength of 780MPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 950 MPa (Young’s Modulus of 207 GPa and with Poisson’s Ratio of 0.33). The static simulation for 6000 N shows that the DPFA model had a maximum stress and strain of 379.9 MPa and 25.6×10⁻⁴ mm/mm respectively, with a contact pressure of 207 MPa, and a maximum displacement of 3.1 mm. The study results can provide theoretical and technical support for the development of agricultural tools, especially for DPFA in selecting optimum material properties and improving safety factors.