Ohio State University Extension Bulletin

Agronomic Crops Team On-Farm Research Projects 1999

Special Circular 176-00


Early Planting Dates for No-Till Soybeans

Steve Ruhl, Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent

Objective: To determine the effect of early planting on yields of no-till soybeans.

Background


Cooperator:
Nearest Town:
Drainage:
Major Soil Type:
Tillage:
Previous Crop:
Variety:
Soil Test:
Tom Weiler
Chesterville
Naturally well-drained
Chili
No-till
Corn
Callahan 8367 RR with Supercoat
pH - 6.3
P - 36 ppm
K - 159 ppm
Fertilizer:
Harvest Date:
Herbicides:
None
October 4
Pre: Canopy - 3 oz.
Post: Roundup - 1 qt.

Methods

Three planting dates were compared to a normal planting date to determine the effect of early planting. A soybean variety with a relative maturity of 3.9 was planted with a 750 JD No-Till Drill. There were four replications in a completely randomized block design. Individual plot size was 30 feet wide with lengths that ranged between 574 and 752 feet. A 20-foot-wide section was harvested out of the center of each plot with yields determined by weigh wagon. The actual acreage of each plot was between 0.264 and 0.345 acres.

Results

Planting Date Yield (bu/ac)

March 29 42.6 a
April 14 41.6 a
April 27 41.6 a
May 7 37.6 b

Treatment means followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05.
Yield LSD = 2.0 bu/ac, cv = 2.26% .

Summary and Notes

Rainfall in April was 167 percent of normal. April was slightly warmer, averaging 116% of normal from April 1 through April 25. Rainfall the first three weeks in May was 0.5 inch or 77% of normal. The May planting took several weeks to completely come up.

The yields of the three early-planted soybeans were significantly higher than the May planting yields. All plantings had good stands of soybeans. The beans were all clean and medium height at harvest.

For additional information, contact:

Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County
871 W. Marion Rd., Suite 102
Mt. Gilead, OH 43338
419-947-1070
ruhl.1@osu.edu


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