Des Moines, Iowa
May 20, 2009
Growers can take actions to
maximize yield potential
Experts at Pioneer Hi-Bred,
a DuPont business, say developing a management plan throughout
the crop cycle is key to increasing yields for soybeans. Variety
selection, seed treatment and scouting are all important factors
in boosting yields, and as the growing season progresses there
are actions growers can take to maximize yields.
"With soybeans, it's about trying something different when it
comes to crop management," says Ryan Clayton, Pioneer agronomist
in southwest Iowa. "Soybeans can respond well to management and
become an even more prosperous crop on growers' operations."
Managing soybeans from beginning, seed selection, through
harvest is essential. Once a soybean crop is in the ground, weed
control and pest and disease scouting is top priority. Options
to boost fertility also may be considered at this time.
Many soybean producers depend on residual corn fertility to
supply nutrients to their soybean crop. When soils are routinely
maintained at high or very high levels of phosphorous (P) and
potassium (K), this may be a safe strategy, but often it is not.
Some Extension soil fertility specialists have indicated soil
test levels of P and K in their states often are not adequate
for optimum soybean yields.
Soybean growers also should be aware of their soil pH. A soil pH
of 6.0 to 7.0 is considered ideal for soybean production. Liming
acid soils or utilizing varieties with good iron deficiency
chlorosis scores on high pH soils will help prevent yield
reduction.
Soybeans are also high in protein and therefore in nitrogen.
Soybeans remove about 4 pounds of nitrogen from the soil for
each bushel of grain produced. This compares to less than a
pound of nitrogen removed per bushel of corn grain produced. The
soybean plant's nitrogen needs usually are supplied by
nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria associated with its roots, so
adding nitrogen fertilizer usually is unnecessary under normal
production practices.
"The importance of obtaining adequate nodulation can't be
overemphasized. Always use an inoculant when planting into a
field that has not been in soybeans for the past two to three
years," says Mike Hughes, Pioneer agronomy research manager.
"Failure to achieve adequate nodulation could require
supplemental nitrogen in-season to maintain yield."
In studies, foliar feeding increased yields only 15 percent to
20 percent of the time. However, it may be useful when soil
nutrients are inadequately supplied, such as production on sandy
soils or high-yielding irrigated fields.
"Fertilizer is a bit of a wild card," explains Clayton. "Within
the industry, data has been mixed as to whether fertilizing
boosts yields. It is, however, always an option to explore."
Weed control also is an important factor in producing
high-yielding soybeans. Controlling weeds early allows growers
to plant into cleaner, warmer seedbeds for improved stand
establishment. DuPontTM Enlite® and EnviveTM herbicides, feature
two modes of action that will provide growers with
longer-lasting, more consistent early season control of weeds
which allows them to apply their postemergence application
closer to crop canopy.
"Delaying weed control or using only a glyphosate application
could reduce potential yields," says Clayton. "Weeds rob soybean
plants of important pod-producing nutrients and sunlight. A
two-pass program is recommended."
Along with weed control, scouting for diseases and pests is
vital. Scouting once a week until flowering, then scouting twice
a week through the intense disease and insect time frames is
ideal.
"In certain regions, particularly in the South, scouting takes
on a high priority quickly in the growing season," says Hughes.
"Once a bean hits the R3 stage, a foliar fungicide application
is typical. Diseases like frogeye leaf spot and others are
easily controlled with a fungicide and have demonstrated a
return on investment. Insects, including various worms and stink
bugs, can cause significant yield loss and damage seed quality.
They must be controlled in a timely manner."
Other important growing season factors include drainage and
irrigation. Fields with poor drainage or standing water for
extended periods of time reduces yields. Irrigation, if
available, should be used in a timely manner.
"Waiting too long to irrigate can set soybeans back," says
Hughes. If a dry spell occurs, and the plant wilts during the
day, the bean is set back and may never catch up. Additionally,
if it takes a long period of time to make a pass with an
irrigation pivot, the beans on the end are going to be stressed,
once again reducing yield.
"On the flip side, growers can cut back irrigation too soon as
well. Though weather dependant, expect to maintain an irrigation
schedule through the R7 stage."
Soybeans should be harvested based on pod maturity and not leaf
drop to avoid waiting too long and shattering.
"If a grower is in an area where drydown is slow, a desiccant
can be applied to speed up that process," says Hughes.
"Sometimes it costs more to wait for the bean to drydown, losing
yields, than to take some dockage at the elevator for moisture."
Other key factors to raising high-yielding soybeans is choosing
the right variety, selecting for relative maturity, key
environment and traits. Though growers will be selecting
products for next year at a later time, keeping an eye on
performance of this year's crop can provide guidance.
"It's important to select the right variety for specific
fields," says Hughes. "It's not about picking the
highest-yielding variety in a trial or choosing a variety that
yielded well for a neighbor; it's about choosing a variety on a
field-by-field basis that will perform well in a particular
environment based on specific soil conditions and insect and
disease pressures - putting the right product on the right
acre."
Planting date is important. Earlier planting allows for more
days of flowering, increasing the number of pods or seeds.
"Planting early allows the bean plant to take advantage of
longer days for optimum flowering," says Clayton. "Increasing
the days of flowering allows for more pods which boosts yields."
Seed treatments also have become increasingly popular, providing
growers added protection. This type of protection offers yield
stability. Growers not using seed treatments should boost
planting rates by 10 percent to 15 percent.
"Several quality fungicide and insecticide seed treatments are
available and should be considered," says Hughes. "Seed
treatments help provide protection for early diseases and pests
when planting into cooler and wetter soils."
According to Pioneer data, soybean yields increase 1.8 percent
each year while corn yields, on average, increase 2 percent each
year.
"It's about developing a management plan and following through
with it from start to finish. Higher yields at harvest time will
show how those efforts paid off," says Clayton.
For more information about Pioneer soybeans, visit
www.pioneer.com/soybeans. To learn more about managing
soybeans for higher yields, contact your local Pioneer sales
professional or agronomist.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading
source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers
and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des
Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics
in nearly 70 countries.
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