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Posted 12 April 2007. Crop Management. Take Risks, Benefits and Recommendations Into Account When Planting Soybeans Early Michigan State University. www.canr.msu.edu East Lansing, Michigan (April 3, 2007)--University experts agree that early planting is a critical component in reaching high soybean yields. But what is considered early, and what other factors do producers need to keep in mind to realize a healthy profit after harvest?
Ideally, soybean planting should begin the first week of May in the lower half of the Lower Peninsula and later for northern counties. According to Michigan State University (MSU) Extension educator and Soybean 2010 coordinator Mike Staton, if soil conditions are favorable and producers manage the crop carefully, soybeans planted during the last week of April can perform as well as beans planted during the first week of May. One of the biggest advantages of early planting is that it provides a longer planting window for attaining maximum yields. Data from the University of Wisconsin and the Ohio State University show that beans planted May 1 will yield about 7 bushels per acre more than beans planted during the last week of May. Beans planted during the last week of April have produced slightly higher yields than those planted May 1. University agronomists have also found that newer soybean varieties are more tolerant of potentially adverse conditions and produce higher yields than older varieties in early planting. “The main risk of early planting is that emerged bean plants may be damaged by freezing temperatures,” Staton says. “This risk can be managed to some degree by the delayed germination and emergence that we find under cooler soil temperatures. Typically, air temperatures have to go as low as 28 degrees F to cause damage.” Another risk to consider when planting early is poor germination and emergence. When soils are cold, beans take longer to emerge. The longer they are in the ground, the greater the risk from soil-borne diseases such as pythium and insect feeding. If beans are planted into extremely cold soils or get a cold rain right after planting, there is also the risk of chilling injury resulting in poor germination. Early-planted soybeans that emerge uniformly and escape freeze injury also have a higher probability of experiencing damage from bean leaf beetles and sudden death syndrome than soybeans planted later in the season. Growers who decide to plant soybeans in the last week of April should consider the following recommendations:• Don’t plant unless the soil is dry enough to support equipment and allow planting equipment to operate properly. • Treat seed with Apron or Allegience fungicides to protect seedlings from pythium. • Till fields or clear last year’s residue from the row to allow the soil to warm up faster and reduce the likelihood of frost damage to emerged seedlings. • Plant in fields at higher elevations that have good air drainage to reduce the likelihood of frost/freeze injury to emerged plants. • Plant only the highest quality seed. Overly dry seed or seeds with damaged seed coats take in soil moisture more rapidly, increasing the likelihood for chilling injury to occur. • If possible, plant when the soil temperatures are expected to be above 50 degrees F for the first six to 24 hours following planting. If you must plant into cold soils, consider waiting until early afternoon to begin planting to allow the soil to warm. • Consider planting slightly shallower if soil moisture is available and planting equipment is providing uniform depth control and good seed-to-soil contact. Never plant less than ¾ inch deep. Consider increasing seeding rates by 10 percent when planting into cool soils. For more information about improving Michigan’s soybean crop, visit the Soybean 2010 Web page at web1.msue.msu.edu. Soybean 2010 was developed to help Michigan growers increase soybean yields and farm profitability by 2010. Funding is provided by MSU Extension, Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), the plant industry initiative at MSU and the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee. Contact: |
