Soybean Title

 

Soybean Planting Date Test

Rick Kochenower, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Goodwell; Ron Sholar, Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences. Soybean Research at OSU 1999. p. 20. OSU/DASNR/OAES/OCES. P-976

Soybeans are a new crop of increasing interest with producers in the Oklahoma panhandle. Previous soybean research concentrated mostly on variety selection through variety trials at Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center (OPREC,) Goodwell, OK. Research was started in 1999 to determine optimum planting- date for irrigated soybeans for the region. Plots were 10 feet by 20 feet planted with a 5-foot drill at 5 dates (Table 1). Asgrow AG4602RR was planted at a rate of 160,000 seeds per acre. Plots were harvested on October 18, with a Massey- Ferguson 8 plot combine to determine yield. The month of May was the optimum planting period. The highest yields were realized on plots planted on May 15 (Table1).

Table 11. Irrigated Soybean Planting Date Test, OPREC, Goodwell, OK.

 

Planting Date
Yield bu/acrecre
Test wt Lb/bu
May 5
60.5
54.0
May 15
72.5
54.8
June 1
60.1
55.3
June 15
45.7
53.6
July 2
33.9
51.3
Mean
54.5
53.8
LSD(0.05%)
8.6
2.3
CV
10.3
2.8

Planting during the first two weeks of June also produced acceptable yields, The June 15 planting date resulted in a yield of 45.7 bu/acre. When planting after this date soybean plants do not have sufficient growth prior to the start of flowering to produce a yield comparable with the earlier planting dates. The soybean is a photoperiod sensitive plant, so when the length of sunlight changes flowering is initiated. Additional research will be conducted to determine if maturity group selection will have an effect on yields at different planting dates.