Adjust planters so that the seed depth is as uniform as possible. The preferred row width for full-season beans is 30 inches or less. As the planting date is delayed past mid-May, the yield advantage for narrow rows increases. Check the seeding rate in Table 6-2 . One extra seed per foot of row equals approximately 75,000 additional seeds per acre when planting in 7-inch rows.
Studies suggest that soybean plants have a tremendous ability to compensate for missing plants.
They do this by developing more branches and podding more heavily, overcoming any potential yield loss. Yield reductions resulting from poor stands still may be more profitable than replanting a field, which incurs additional costs and means a lower yield potential because of the later planting date. The potential soybean yield will not be reduced greatly by a smaller population, but pod height will be lower, which may increase harvest losses. Also, reduced populations provide less competition to weeds, making weed control less effective. If plant populations are too high, lodging may increase.