The purpose of this study is to examine how planting depth impacts plant population, emergence and yield.

2017 Southern Illinois Soybean Planting Depth Study

This year we saw the highest yield at the deepest planting depth. When this study was planted, the soil moisture at the 0.5 in. depth was very minimal and germination did not take place until a rainfall event occurred. For the 1.0 in. planting depth, sporadic emergence occurred since the soil moisture was limited. Once planting depths reached 1.5 in., soil moisture was more abundant which allowed germination to take place earlier. In 2017, the 2.5 in. depth out-yielded all the other depths. However, this may not always occur. We often face wet conditions after planting at our Southern Illinois PFR site, which results in poor stands and lower yields with deeper planted soybeans. Our multi-year data shows that, on average, the 1.5 in. depth is the most profitable.

 Fall: In-Line Rip/Disk-Rip, Spring: Vertical-Till/Field Cultivation | 

 Pre: 1 qt. Authority® Elite, 1 qt. Roundup PowerMAX® Post: 1 qt. Roundup PowerMAX®, 4 oz. Anthem® Maxx, 4 oz. Section® Three | 

*®XL, Optimum, and AcreMax are registered trademarks of Pioneer. XL® brand seed is distributed by Beck’s Superior Hybrids, Inc.