Dennis Baker, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent
Steve Foster, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent
To determine whether there are significant yield differences when seeding rates of soybeans are increased from 110,000 to 165,000 to 220,000 seeds per acre.
| Cooperator: | Darke County Farm | Fertilizer: | Broadcast 100 lb/A 0-41-0 |
| County: | Darke County | and 125 lb/A 0-0-60 | |
| Nearest Town: | Greenville | Planting Date: | May 30, 2002 |
| Drainage: | Subsurface | Planting Rate: | See treatment |
| Soil types: | Miami silt loam and | Row Width: | 30-inch |
| Eldean loam | Herbicides: | ||
| Tillage: | No-till | PRE: | 26 oz/A Roundup |
| Previous Crop: | Corn | Ultra Max and 1.4 oz/A | |
| Variety: | Cropland 3276 | Scepter | |
| Soil test: | pH 5.9, P 28 ppm | POST: | 26 oz/A Roundup |
| K 150 ppm | Ultra Max and 0.2 oz/A | ||
| First Rate | |||
| Harvest Date: | October 4, 2002 |
Soybeans were planted using a Buffalo slot planter with Kinze brush-type seed meter units. The plots were replicated four times with each plot 30 feet wide and approximately 750 feet in length. One stand count was taken approximately three weeks after emergence in each of the four replications of each population to verify differences in seeding rates.
Table 1. Soybean Stand, Moisture, and Yield.a
| Treatment | Stand Count | Moisture | Yield |
| (seeds/A) | (plants/A) | (%) | (bu/A) |
| 110,000 | 93,573 a | 12.0 | 12.4 |
| 165,000 | 138,747 b | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| 220,000 | 157,551 b | 12.0 | 13.7 |
| LSD (0.05) | 32,263 | NS | NS |
| F-test | 16.0 | <1 | 1.8 |
| a Means followed by the same letter in the same column are not significantly different | |||
There were no significant differences in the yields when comparing three different seeding rates of soybeans planted in 30-inch rows. This was not an exceptionally good year for growing soybeans in our area. Expected yields are usually four to five times greater than what was experienced this year. Due to the extremely dry and hot weather, herbicide efficacy was very low, and the canopy was thin. This resulted in significant weed pressure.
For further information, contact:
Steve Foster
Ohio State University Extension, Darke County
700 Wayne St.
Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-5215
foster.99@osu.edu