These coatings made of biodegradable materials were designed to delay germination of the soybean seed. The coatings A and C were described as being able to delay germination and protect the seed from pathogens from one to two weeks respectively. The same soybean variety was used for all treatments. Soybeans with Coating C were two weeks slower in emerging than the control. Plant stand counts 11 weeks after planting were not significantly different among the three treatments.
Results indicate no benefit to the use of either polymer coating treatment.
Ohio State University agronomists recommend a final soybean population of 105,000 plants per acre. Bean leaf beetles damaged plots throughout the test area. Stand counts for all treatments were unacceptable to obtain representative yields. To that end, soybean yield data were not taken.