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Early soybean seeding yields best resultsNebraska Early seeding allows soybean producers to increase yields while reducing seeding rates, said a University of Nebraska-Lincoln specialist. "We used to plant soybeans quite a bit later than we do now, but recent research shows that we get a real advantage in early seeding of soybeans," said Bob Klein, cropping systems specialist at UNL's West Central Research and Extension Center. "One of the reasons for this is that we get a lot more nodes. We can even reduce our seeding rate because of all those nodes we get with the earlier seeding." Klein recommends planting between April 20 and May 10 if soil conditions allow. This will vary a little bit throughout Nebraska, starting earlier in the southeast and later in locations that are farther west and a little north. Unlike corn, soybeans provide best yields with the same planting rate on both irrigated and dryland fields, Klein said. Experiments at the research and Extension center have given best results over the years at a seeding rate of about 150,000. Klein's research in soybeans seeded before May 10 shows that producers can reduce that seeding rate by about 20 percent to about 120,000, in some cases even less. "We don't have good results with dryland soybeans in the North Platte area," Klein said. "When we did some research a number of years ago here in North Platte, we had an eight-bushel average yield." The problem with soybeans is that they need water during pod fill and that moisture often isn't there in western parts of the state at that critical time, Klein said. He said that locations even 50 or 60 miles east of North Platte and McCook can yield better results. Klein said that UNL makes a great deal of information available on soybeans and best practices through NebGuides and Extension Circulars. Producers should consult variety tests as well. Another thing producers should consider is a good weed management program, Klein said. A lot of information on that aspect of soybean growing is available in the "Weed Management Guide," EC 130. The West Central Research and Extension Center is part of UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Date: 5/1/08 Advertisement
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