Managing Early Planted Soybeans

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Rationale

  • Small plot research from several land grant universities and Pioneer indicates that there is a likely advantage to planting soybean in the last half of April or early May when compared to mid-May or later in IL and IN.
  • Advantages to early planted soybean
    • Increased seasonal canopy photosynthesis
    • Greater number of main stem nodes
    • Longer reproductive growth

Objectives

  • Evaluate yield response when soybean is planted 2 or 3 weeks earlier (mid-April to early May) than the current cultural practice at locations across IL and IN.
  • Investigate a plausible soybean varietal maturity and planting time interaction. 

Study Description

  • Yields of early and full-season soybean varieties were compared at early and normal planting timings at 58 locations in IL and IN in 2011 and 2012 (see map below).
  • Two soybean varieties were planted at 2 timings (early and normal) at each location. Specific planting dates and variety pairs varied by location.
Map - Agronomy research locations - IN/IL

Results

  • Among 37 testing locations where variety pairs differed by an average of 1 full maturity group, a significant planting time by maturity interaction was observed. The full-season adapted varieties increased their grain yield when planted at an earlier than normal time, while the early varieties yielded similarly between planting timings.
  • At 21 testing locations where variety pairs differed less in maturity rating (average of 0.5 difference in maturity group), no such interaction was observed.  Both varieties responded similarly to planting timing.
  • Action: Planting a full-season adapted Pioneer® brand soybean variety at an earlier than normal time extends the duration of reproductive growth; this extension in reproductive growth allows soybean to take advantage of optimum conditions during the growing season whenever they occur, and will often accumulate into the highest grain yields.

Locations with full maturity group difference between varieties

Chart - Influence of variety maturity, at early (mid-April to early May) and normal (late May) planting times on soybean grain yield at 37 IL & IN locations.

Influence of variety maturity, at early (mid-April to early May) and normal (late May) planting times on soybean grain yield at 37 IL & IN locations in 2011 and 2012.

Locations with 0.5 maturity group difference between varieties

Chart - Influence of variety maturity, early (mid-April to early May) and normal (late May) planting times on soybean grain yield at 21 IL & IN locations in 2011 and 2012.

Influence of variety maturity, early (mid-April to early May) and normal (late May) planting times on soybean grain yield at 21 IL & IN locations in 2011 and 2012.


PIONEER® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. 2012 data are based on average of all comparisons made in 58 locations through Nov. 14, 2012. Multi-year and multi-location is a better predictor of future performance. Do not use these or any other data from a limited number of trials as a significant factor in product selection. Product responses are variable and subject to a variety of environmental, disease, and pest pressures. Individual results may vary.