Remember, too, that fungicide treatment rarely increases yields, so long as adequate minimum populations are established. The recommended plant populations shown in Table 1 are valid for double crop soybeans. However, seeding rates for soybeans following wheat may be greater, because of added difficulty in establishing desirable stands. It is not necessary to increase seeding rates for no-till soybeans if a properly weighted and adjusted drill or planter is used and soil conditions are acceptable. Special care should be taken to assure correct planting depth, good slot closure, and soil firming around the seed.
Most problems occur when trying to plant when the soil is either too wet or too dry.
If too dry, it is difficult to obtain adequate coulter penetration and seed placement at the correct depth. Fortunately, the growth characteristics of most varieties are such that establishing precise populations is not critical. Only when stands are 50 percent thinner or 50 percent thicker than the optimum populations suggested in Table 1 would serious problems be expected. Calculating desired plant populations can be approached several ways. Table 1 goes through the exercise of determining seeding rates, expressing them on the basis of seeds per foot of row and pounds of seed per acre.