What are the factors that contribute to yield in a soybean plant? We are always chasing yield on a plant that will compensate very well for the conditions it faces during the growing season.

What are the soybean yield factors that contribute to plant growth? We're always chasing yield on plants that will compensate for the conditions they face during the growing season.

Light, water, and nutrients are the factors that produce yield. We must also focus on the yield components of our soybean crop and work to enhance them during the growing season.

So, what are the yield components of soybeans?

To increase our yield in soybeans, we must start with an adequate plant population. Soybean yields correlate with nodes/A, and planting fewer plants per acre encourages the plants to increase branching, thus increasing the nodes/A.

An established plant stand must be able to canopy quickly to maximize light interception and limit weed emergence and competition. It's also important to balance your plant population with the optimum return on investment. As plant populations increase, soybeans tend to grow taller. This leads to less sunlight reaching deep into the canopy, ultimately reducing harvestable yield.

Overall yields correlate to the number of soybean nodes per acre. Nodes are the part of the plant stem where the trifoliate leaves attach to the stem and where flowers develop. Row width and plant spacing can directly influence branching in soybeans. Typically, soybean plants add a new node every 3.7 days after the first trifoliate stage until approximately the R5 growth stage of development. Each node equals more flowers, pods, and, eventually, grain.

Soybeans are photoperiod sensitive, meaning the plants initiate flowering in response to night length. Indeterminate soybeans, grown by most Midwest farmers, continue vegetative growth after flowering begins.

By planting earlier, soybeans have the opportunity to put more nodes on each plant. They do so by increasing vegetative growth and maximizing sunlight light harvest. We especially need to take advantage of sunlight throughout May.

Another factor that can influence nodes per plant is soil fertility. Potassium plays a major role in soybean production as it aids in nodulation, the regulation of plant stomata, and photosynthesis. Without proper levels, soybean plants cannot maximize functions like root growth and leaf surface area, leading to less vegetative growth.

Pods per node are a critical component that affects the weight of the seed produced. One of the main yield-determining factors is the total number of soybean pods that come from the flower set. Flowers and the resulting pods form at the nodes of the plant. Plant stress, whether abiotic or biotic, can greatly impact flower fertilization, flower retention, and pod development.

Soybeans naturally abort about 20% to 80% of their flowers. Beck's 

 studies show that foliar nutrition and sugar applications made at the R1 growth stage can help soybeans retain their flowers by minimizing stress.

Conditions after flowering will play a role in the number of seeds per pod that develop. Healthy soybean plants will average 2.5 seeds per pod, and ideal conditions during pod set will allow for more soybeans per pod. Soybeans under stress will abort seeds to maintain at least one healthy seed per pod.

Late-season moisture is one of the most significant factors in determining seed size. Planting early to allow for a longer grain fill period also increases seed size at the end of the year. Anything we can do to reduce stress during the grain fill period will benefit overall grain weight. Adding an R3 fungicide application can help maintain plant health to extend the grainfill period.

Foliar feeding boron and molybdenum at R3 assists with nutrient movement in the plant. This practice has improved grain yields in Beck's PFR studies. As you plan for next season, ask yourself what management practices you can implement to increase nodes, flowers, pods, and seeds per acre.

 Narrower rows lead to increased plant-to-plant spacing down the row but also increase soybean height. This can lead to more nodes per acre compared to the same seeding rate at wider row widths.

 Earlier planting increases vegetative growth before flowering occurs. It also moves the start of flowering to earlier in the summer.

 Foliar diseases and insects during flowering can decrease plant health, causing pod abortion and yield loss.

 products and practices at the correct growth stages in soybeans.

 Targeted applications at the correct soybean growth stage can help you achieve high yields. A 

While soybean yield is determined by the number and weight of the seeds at harvest, we can influence that outcome starting the moment the seed hits the ground. Well-planned management strategies and diligent scouting of your soybean fields can help you reach ultimate yields this season.