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Planting Season Management for High-Yield Soybeans

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Key Steps to Maximize Yield:

Soybean Variety Selection

  • Match an appropriate variety to fit specific field conditions taking into consideration geographic location, expected rainfall, soil type, tillage system, drainage, and diseases.

  • Resistance or field tolerance to Phytophthora root rot, iron deficiency chlorosis, specific races of SCN, or other diseases may be essential to achieving high soybean yields in a particular field.

2012 side-by-side comparison of non-treated soybeans

2012 side-by-side comparison of non-treated soybeans vs. EverGol Energy + FST/IST + PPST 2030 in Johnston, IA.

Pioneer Premium Seed Treatment with EverGol™ Energy

  • Pioneer Premium Seed Treatment contains active ingredients that protect soybeans from seed- and soilborne diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium spp., Pythium spp., and Phomopsis longicolla.

  •  PPST with EverGol Energy showed a positive yield advantage over a non-treated check in 47 of 57 research locations from 2010 to 2012, a win rate of 82%.

  •  The 3-year average soybean yield advantage for PPST with EverGol Energy was 1.34 bu/acre over the non-treated check across all 57 locations.

PPST with EverGol Energey Yield Advantage vs. Non-Treated.

Seeding Rate

  • Soybeans have some ability to compensate for reduced stands; however, too much reliance on this ability can lead to poor stands and limit top-end yield potential.
  • Other benefits of higher planting rates include:
    • Quicker shading of the ground
      • Reduces reflective heat coming off hot soils that can inhibit tender seedling growth.
      • Reduces the effect of early weed competition.
      • Lowers the rate of soil moisture evaporation.
  • Helps prevent potential yield reductions or replanting when seedbed conditions, weather, or pests are likely to reduce stands.
  • Has shown a benefit in reducing iron deficiency chlorosis on high pH soils.
optimum economic seeding rates at soybean market prices

Optimum economic seeding rates at soybean market prices of $10, $12, and $15/bu and a $60/unit seed cost based on DuPont Pioneer research conducted across 9 locations in IA, IL, IN, MN, and NE.
(Research trials were planted in 30-inch rows, economic optimum seeding rates would be expected to be greater in narrow rows.)

Weed Control

  • Eliminate weed competition early. Glyphosate-resistant weeds are becoming increasingly common.
  • Use a preemergence herbicide with residual activity to reduce early season weed competition with the crop.
  • Additional postemergence herbicides may also be necessary to prevent escapes of weeds not controlled by glyphosate. Apply postemergence treatments at the recommended weed size according to herbicide label guidelines.
  • Include multiple modes of action in a herbicide program.

Product responses are variable and subject to many factors including soil type, management practices and environmental stress as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary.