Soil conditions - Cloddy, crusted, or dry soil will usually reduce emergence. Seed treatments - Fungicides may increase emergence of lower quality seed, especially under less than ideal soil conditions. Seed with 80 percent or higher germination may be affected slightly, if at all. A fungicide containing the active ingredient metalaxyl may prove beneficial for early planting. Remember, seed treatments with fungicides may increase stands, but rarely increase yields as long as final stands are uniform and within the desired range.
Seed treatments are a form of insurance.
Sometimes they pay, sometimes they do not. Cropping history, soil temperatures, and the five-day weather forecast following planting will all aid in this decision. Depth of planting - Plant soybeans 1 to 2 inches deep, depending on the soil type and the moisture situation. Deeper planting slows emergence and may reduce final stands. Place seeds in firm, moist soil and cover them adequately.