Soybean Planting Date and Seeding Rate Effects on Stand Loss, Grain Yield, Agronomic Optimum Seeding Rate, Partial Net Economic Return, and Seed Quality

Download or read book Soybean Planting Date and Seeding Rate Effects on Stand Loss, Grain Yield, Agronomic Optimum Seeding Rate, Partial Net Economic Return, and Seed Quality written by Fabiano Colet and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Planting soybean early (late April through early May) is recommended to achieve high grain yields. However, unfavorable conditions can limit farmers’ ability to plant during the recommended period, and thus, an increase in the seeding rate may be necessary. Also, weather conditions can affect seed quality, and choosing an adequate planting date can mitigate the impacts of unfavorable weather on the seed. Thus, the objectives of this study were to (1) measure the effect of planting date and seeding rate on stand loss over the growing season, (2) measure the effect of soybean seeding rate and planting date on grain yield, (3) identify the agronomic optimum soybean seeding rate (AOSR) and the partial economic return for the lowest and highest soybean price, and (4) measure the effect of soybean planting date and seeding rate on harvested seed mass, seed germination, and seedling vigor. For these objectives, a field study was conducted for two growing seasons at two locations in Ohio: Western (WARS) and Northwest (NWARS) Agricultural Research Stations. The experimental design used was a split-plot randomized complete block with four replications. The main plot factor was four planting dates ranging from 25 April through 10 July, and the split-plot factor was five seeding rates ranging from 123,500 to 618,000 seeds ha-1. At WARS-2020, planting soybeans in April through early June had a similar grain yield (5,090-5,285 kg ha-1), while there was a reduction in grain yield when soybean was planted in late June (4,216 kg ha-1). In contrast, in WARS-2021, planting dates did not statically influence grain yield. At NWARS-2020, a small amount of rainfall during the pod-setting growth stages (R3-R4 stages) impacted and reduced the grain yield for soybeans planted in April (3,113 kg ha-1) and May (2,909 kg ha-1) when compared to soybean planted on early-June (3,595 kg ha-1). The AOSR changed among site-years. For soybean grown under normal weather conditions, the AOSR needed to be increased as planting was delayed to achieve the highest grain yield. The planting date factor also impacted soybean seed quality. The germination rate in all site-years was above 94%; however, soybean planted in early June had the lowest seedling vigor results (64 to 81%) compared to other planting dates (80 to 89%) in both locations. These findings can help growers improve grain yield, increase economic return, and produce high-quality seeds.