Yield Potential Several high yield potential varieties in maturity groups II and III are available for Nebraska producers. The results of these trials are published each year in EC 79-104 Performance of Soybean Varieties in Nebraska , which is available from the Cooperative Extension Service . Both dryland and irrigationd trials are conducted so that highly productive varieties can be identified. One should consult trial results that summarize several years of tests over a number of locations in order to select varieties which perform well in different environments. Generally, the varieties that mature earlier have a higher yield potential than later varieties where irrigation is used.
Irrigation tends to delay maturity, and the early varieties have responded better to irrigation.
In dryland production, the yield differences between early and late soybeans may not be as much, although full-season varieties will generally outperform early varieties in the long run. Plant Type Soybean varieties have different growth habits which can be exploited. The range is from highly branching types to thin-line types which produce a single, main stem. Ratings of some of the soybeans adapted to Nebraska conditions are shown in Table II . Row width and plant population may alter the growth habit of soybeans enough to somewhat change the degree of branching.