Review

Soybean Statistics

Brazil
Soybean
Harvest

Producer U.S. & Brazil

Exporter (Oil & Meal) Argentina & Brazil
Exporter (grain) Brazil & U.S.
Importer (grain) China and EU
Importer (Meal) Europe and Indonesia
Importer (Oil) India and China
Consumers (oil) China and U.S.
Consumers (meal) China and EU

USA & NE Soybean Yield Trends (1971-2012)

USA & NE Corn Yield Trends (1971-2012)

225

65
Last 15 Years: y = +0.826x - 1,601
R2

NE Irrigated Trend: y = +0.648x - 1,244

NE Irrigated Trend: y = 2.095x - 4,025 R2 = 0.853

= 0.895

Last 15 Years: y = + 2.231x - 4,295

195

55
Seed Yield (bu/ac)

Seed Yield (bu/ac)

165
45

35

135

105

75
USA Trend: y = +0.424x - 810.4 R2 = 0.811

25

45

Last 15 Years: y = +0.367x - 695.2

NE Rainfed Trend: y = +0.378x - 718.9 R2 = 0.368

15
1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

USA Trend: y = 1.735x - 3,335 R2 = 0.774

NE Rainfed Trend: y = 1.533x - 2,964 R2 = 0.447

Last 15 Years: y = +0.500x - 962.7

2000

2005

2010

15
1970

2015

Production Year

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

Last 15 Years: y = + 0.959x - 1,176

Last 15 Years: y = + 1.368x + 2,633

2000

2005

2010

2015

Production Year

Corn Yield versus Soybean Yield Over Time

Is Annual Yield Improvement in Corn Really Faster Than That in Soybean?
Looks that way here, doesn't it? But is it really? Let's think about it!

Corn/Soybean Productivity Ratio

210
NE Irrigated Corn Yield Trend:
y(bu/ac) = 2.095x - 4,024.7 R2 = 0.853
Note: 56 pounds of corn at 15.5% seed H2O = 1 bushel !

180

C4

(corn) vs C3 (soybean) photosynthetic

pathways

Yield (bu/ac)

150

Corn more productive with high intensity of solar

radiation
Soybean less productive due to photorespiration

120

90

NE Irrigated Soybean Yield Trend:

y = 0.645x - 1,243.7 R2 = 0.895
Note: 60 pounds of soybean at 13% seed H2O = 1 bushel !

Corn

kernel largely carbohydrate, soybean

lipid (oil) and protein
Soybean fixes atmospheric N, corn does not

60

30

0
1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

Production Year

Corn / Soybean Yield Trends (2.095 / 0.645 bu/ac yr)

High-Yield Soybean Production

Graph corn and soybean yield improvement on 3.25 vs 1 scales, to reflect the intrinsic
3.25/1.0 corn/soybean productivity difference (Note: less DM & more H2O per corn bu)!

210

65

180

56

150

46

120

37

90

Rank

Management Factor

Yield Difference
(bu/acre)

Variety Selection

15

Planting Date

Weed Control

Phosphorus Fertility

Crop Rotation

Seeding Rate

28
NE Irrigated Soybean Yield Trend:
y(bu/ac) = 0.645x - 1,243.7 R2 = 0.895
Note: 60 pounds of soybean (at 13% seed H2O) per bushel !

60
1970

Soybean Yield (bu/ac)

Corn Yield (bu/ac)

NE Irrigated Corn Yield Trend:

y(bu/ac) = 2.095x - 4,024.7 R2 = 0.853
Note: 56 pounds of corn (at 15.5% seed H2O) per bushel !

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

Production Year

2000

2005

2010

19
2015

CULTIVAR
A

general term for either

a hybrid or
a variety

HYBRID
Seed

produced from crossing two

distinctly different inbred lines
Heterosis (hybrid vigor)
Ability

to perform better than either parent

Seed costs (higher)

either
easy

naturally cross pollinated or

to develop male sterility

Cannot save seed due to loss of heterosis

COMPLEMENTATION
SELECTION STRATEGY

VARIETY
Gene

pairs in a homozygous state

Usually a self pollinated crop
Able to save seed (unless
a GMO)
Lower seed costs
Lower yield potential since
heterosis is not present

COMPLEMENTATION
SELECTION STRATEGY
Steps

identify workhorse
(i.e. proven) hybrids/varieties
Complement based on
production

practices (no-till, narrow row, early

planting, etc.)
soil conditions (high pH, low fertility, etc.)
likely pest problems (other hazards)
range of maturities (minimize pollination & frost risk)
different genetics (different parents - broaden
genetic diversity)

No

single perfect hybrid/variety

Complementation allows one to
offset potential weaknesses of a hybrid/variety
with strengths of other hybrids/varieties

COMPLEMENTATION
SELECTION STRATEGY
Problems

related to private industry

trends
Varieties have short life (4 yrs)
turn

over per year

soybean = 24%
how

to identify workhorse
variety?

Availability of information
especially

for genetic parentage

NEBRASKA HEAT UNITS

(GROWING DEGREE DAYS)
1900

SOYBEAN MATURITY
CLASSIFICATION

Days

2100 2300 2500 2700

2700

2900

3100

to maturity or GDD works if

soybean is produced for forage, but
grain production is
photoperiod
sensitive
Complex to
understand

3300

SOYBEAN MATURITY??

Maturity zones 000 to X run east and west

SOYBEAN MATURITY
CLASSIFICATION
Soybean

is a short-day plant
What does that mean?
Actually is the length of night
(i.e. short-day = long-night)
Induction occurs at the V1 growth stage
28 to 31 days later flowering starts (R1)
Plant continues to form nodes (pods) until
R5 stage

SOYBEAN MATURITY
CLASSIFICATION
Further

define maturity classification by

comparing maturity to standard varieties
early, mid, late
days earlier or later than standard variety
decimal system (becoming most common)
Maturity
Maturity

Group II 2.2 vs 2.5 vs. 2.8

Group III 3.2 vs 3.5 vs 3.8

SOYBEAN MATURITY
CLASSIFICATION
90%

+ soybean production area uses

photoperiod and standard variety
In Great Plains we also must consider
the temperature/elevation
interaction with photoperiod
Effects flowering and increased
likelihood of very early fall frost

SOYBEAN MATURITY
CLASSIFICATION - Repeat
Soybean

is a short-day plant
is the length of night
(i.e. short-day = long-night)
Induction occurs at the V1 growth stage
28 to 31 days later flowering starts (R1)
Plant continues to form nodes (pods) until
R5 stage
Earlier maturing varieties reach R5 in fewer
days than later maturing varieties
Actually

SOYBEAN MATURITY
CLASSIFICATION

May 10 Day Lengths

Minnesota

= 15 hrs
= 14 hrs 20 minutes
Mississippi = 13 hrs 40 minutes
Nebraska

Characteristics of varieties moved south Variety from Minnesota planted in

Nebraska?
days are shorter in NE, thus
+ flowers earlier (earlier induction, V1 stage is
earlier)
+ has less vegetative growth
+ reaches R5 stage and matures earlier
+ lower yield
+ uses only part of the growing season

SOYBEAN MATURITY
CLASSIFICATION

Characteristics of varieties moved north - variety from

Mississippi planted in Nebraska?
days are longer in NE, thus
+ flower later (later induction, V1 stage is later)
+ produces more vegetative growth
+ reaches R5 stage later and not able to mature
+ low yield

Soybean Growth Habits

Indeterminate

Determinate

SOYBEAN MATURITY
CLASSIFICATION
Characteristics

of varieties moved north variety from Nebraska planted in Minnesota?

days are longer in MN, thus

+ flower later (later induction, V1 stage is later)

+ produces more vegetative growth

+ reaches the R5 stage later and not able to mature

+ low yield

SOYBEAN GROWTH
PROPERTY - GROWTH HABIT
Characteristic
Origin
Flowering Period
Stress Tolerance
Height
Lodging
Prod. Environment

Yield Potential

Indeterminate
000 - IV
4 - 6 weeks
Greater
Tall
More
Range

Equal

Determinate
V-X
2 - 4 weeks
Less
Short
Less
High Yield

SOYBEAN GROWTH PROPERTY

PLANT/CANOPY TYPE
Comparative Advantage
Row Spacing
Plant Population
Rainfall/Irrigation
Hail
Yield Potential
Lodging Potential
(Branch)

Thin-line
(Slender) Bushy
Narrow
Wide
High
Low
High
Low
Worse
Better
Equal
Less
More

Planting Depth Principles

Cultivar Selection - Review

Soil

Cultivar - general name

for variety or hybrid
Hybrid - cross of unlike
lines
Higher yield - heterosis
Combine desirable
traits
High seed cost
Undesirable to save
seed

Variety - pure line, breeds

true
Self pollinated crops
Lower seed costs
(lower seed production
costs)
Can save seed (unless
containing GMO trait)

Planting Depth Soil

Temperature
Cold

soil plant shallower (warms up

more rapidly)
Residues on soil surface
Poorly drained soils

Warm

soils plant deeper

Ridge tops
Well drained soils (sandy)
Residues incorporated

temperature
water
Coleoptile length & type of emergence
(epigeal for soybean)
Seedsize not a major issue for soybean
Type of Emergence and coleoptile/hypocotyl
length
Commonly 1 2 inches deep some
varieties with long hypocotyls able to
emerge from greater depth
Soil

Planting Depth Soil Water

Content
Dry

soil conditions

Plant deeper to place seed into moist soil

Move dry soil on surface
Row

cleaners (no-till)
cleaners (ridge-plant)

Ridge

Residue

on soil surface keeps soil

more moist

Planting Depth
Type of
Emergence &
Coleoptile Length

Crusting

Hypocotyl

Hypogeal

Planting
Depth
Seed
Size

Epigeal
Generally not a soybean issue!

Planting Date
A

key to producing high yields

After variety selection, the second most
important management decision for highyield soybean production
Soil temperature cardinal minimal
temperature is considered to be 60 F, but
soybean will imbibe water and start the
germination process at temperatures of 50F
Global warming earlier planting possible

PLANTING DATE EARLY PLANTING

Late April to early May immediately after
planting corn (sometimes too late and
can result in reduced yield)
Labor
Increased probability for spring
frost - location of growing point of
soybean seedling
Yield potential (reading assignment)

PLANTING DATE SOYBEAN PHOTOPERIOD

delayed

planting effect on

Photoperiod induction date

Flowering date 28 to 31 days after initiation
R5 (seed fill) growth stage unchanged
Less time between flowering & seed fill
Fewer
Fewer

nodes produced (indeterminate growth habit)

pods produced, thus lower yield

Internode length temperature sensitive (late

planted have greater internode length)
Physiological maturity has minor change, unless
H2O stress present

Reasons Why Soybean Planting Date

Matters
Seasonal

interception of solar radiation

Transpiration (rather than evaporation) of
available water
Produce as many plant stem nodes as
possible
Where flower are produced
Then pods produced
And ultimately seeds within pods are produced

Seeding Rate
Weight/acre

Soybean Plant Population

Today, usually seed is marketed in 140,000 seed units, not

by weight

Base Plant Population

- 9 plants / foot of row (30 inch rows)

Low Populations Due to Poor Emergence

May 28 Planting Date in 30 inch rows
Emergence (%) Plants/ft row % of High
Yield
78.5
4.4
96

or

100,000

bu/a = 60 lbs/a * 3800 seeds/lb * acre/43560 ft2 * 2.5 ft2 =

13.1 seeds/ft
bu/a = 60 lbs/a * 2200 seeds/lb * acre/43560 ft2 * 2.5 ft2 =
7.6 seeds/ft

Species with Great

Ability to Compensate

- 150,000 plants / acre

At Harvest!

64.6

3.6

96

54.2

3.0

100

58.1

3.3

100

Low Population Stand Reduction

Skips in Rows

Soybeans Planted at 6.8 seeds/ft. in 30

inch rows
Growth
Stand
% High
Stage
Reduction (%)
Yield
Pods/Plant
V7
0
98
56
25
100
67
50
100
81
R3

LSD (0.05)

0
25
50

vs. seeds/ft

100
92
86
**

51
57
72
11

% of Rows
in Skips
25

Length of Skips
(inches)
9
14
27

Relative
Yield (%)
100
96
90

50

9
18
27

96
94
87

Plant Population Effects

on Harvestable Yields
Podding

height

Plant Population Effects

on Harvestable Yields
Podding
Branch

Plant Population Effects

on Harvestable Yields
Podding

height
lodging (low population)
Plant lodging (high population)

Plant Population Effects

on Harvestable Yields
Podding

height
lodging (low population)
Plant lodging (high population)
Weed competition

Branch

Branch

Nebraska On-Farm
Seeding Rate

height
lodging (low population)

Yield (bu/acre)

90,000

Plant
Population
84,150

120,000

109,200

69.5

150,000

135,450

69.8

180,000

159,300

69.6

68.1

UNL presently recommends 120,000 seeds per

acre

Adjustments to Maximize
Harvestable Yield - NE
None!!!!
Elmore indicates a seeding rate of 140,000
seeds/acre (approximately 119,000
plants/acre) to be recommended rate for:

Adjustments to Maximize
Harvestable Yield - KS

dryland and irrigated

indeterminate and determinate varieties
narrow and wide rows
delayed planting???? [not included in this study]
Confirmed in field research conducted by the UNL
Coop Ext Service

Devlin
High

et al. Reading assignment.

yield environment

At least 115,000 seeds/acre in 30-inch rows

203,000 to 232,000 seeds/acre in 8-inch
rows (75 to 100% increase)
Under

low & medium yield environments one seeding rate of approximately

150,000 seeds/acre [similar to Elmore]

High pH soils Fe Deficiency

Chlorosis
Tolerant

variety
Plant 12 viable seeds per foot of row
200,000 viable seeds per acre in 30 inch rows
If % germination is 90%, then 222,000 seeds/acre
If % germination is 80%, then 250,000 seeds/acre
Seeding

rate/plant population
recommendation does not vary with other soil
nutrient levels

Soybeans

Review

have great ability to compensate

Growth habit
Branching ability
Long flowering period

produces similar yield over a wide

range of population (3 to 25 plants per foot of
30 inch row)
Plant population recommendations based on
harvestable yield (100,000 -120,000 plants/ac,
roughly 120,000 to 140,000 seeds/ac)
Poding height

Replant Decisions
>

50,000 plant/acre

Fairly

Able

uniformly distributed

to maintain weed control

Then

do not replant!!!!

Soybeans- a Short Crop

Species
Potential

yield increased by narrowing

rows

Soybean

Plant and branch lodging

Weed competition

15 inch
30 inch
6 inch

Row Spacing - Days to Soybean

Canopy Closure

Row Spacing - Interception of

Solar Radiation

Row Width (Inches)

10
20
30
40

Days to Closure
36
47
58
67

Soybeans--a Short Crop

Species
Potential

yield increased by narrowing

rows

Interception of
Row Spacing Solar Radiation Increase
(inches)
(%)
(%)

36
46
-
18
61
33

6
70
53

Soybeans--a Short Crop

Species
Potential

yield increased by narrowing

rows

40 inches --------- 30 inches = ________%

30 inches --------- 20 inches = ________%
20 inches --------- 10 inches = ________%

40 inches --------- 30 inches = _7 - 10__%

30 inches --------- 20 inches = ________%
20 inches --------- 10 inches = ________%

Soybeans--a Short Crop

Species

Soybeans--a Short Crop

Species

Potential

yield increased by narrowing

rows
40 inches --------- 30 inches = _7 - 10__%
30 inches --------- 20 inches = _5 - 7___%
20 inches --------- 10 inches = ________%

Potential

yield increased by narrowing

rows
40 inches --------- 30 inches = _7 - 10__%
30 inches --------- 20 inches = 5 - 7
%
20 inches --------- 10 inches = _ 3 - 5___%

Soybeans--a Short Crop

Species
Potential

yield increased by narrowing

rows
40 inches --------- 30 inches = _7 - 10__%
30 inches --------- 20 inches = 5 - 7
%
20 inches --------- 10 inches = _ 3 - 5___%
TOTAL 15 - 22 (20%)

Soybeans--a Short Crop

Species
Potential

yield increased by narrowing

rows = approximately 20%

Water

Availability Consideration

Castana, Iowa
Row Spacing
(inches)
10

1975
39

20

37

30

36

Castana, Iowa
Row Spacing
(inches)
10

1975
39

48

20

37

11

48

48

30

36

13

48

36

11

44

8.2

1.1

14.7

Yield (Bu/a)
1976
1977
12
52
11
13

40

36

11

44

40

Precipitation in
June-August

8.2

1.1

14.7

Precipitation in
June-August

Castana, Iowa
Row Spacing
(inches)
10

1975
39

20

37

11

30

36

40

36

Precipitation in
June-August

8.2

Yield (Bu/a)
1976
1977
12
52

Castana, Iowa

Yield (Bu/a)
1976
1977
12
52

Row Spacing
(inches)
10

1975
39

Yield (Bu/a)
1976
1977
12
52

48

20

37

11

48

13

48

30

36

13

48

11

44

40

36

11

44

1.1

14.7

Precipitation in
June-August

8.2

1.1

14.7

1
2
3
4
5

Mandan, North Dakota1

Mandan, North Dakota1

Yield (bu/a)
Row Spacing
(inches)
19762 19773 19784 19795
6
8
1
16
12
18
11
3
17
13
36
10
3
18
11
LSD (0.05)
NS
0.6
NS
NS

Yield (bu/a)
Row Spacing
(inches)
19762 19773 19784 19795
6
8
1
16
12
18
11
3
17
13
10
3
18
11
36
LSD (0.05)
NS
0.6
NS
NS

Relative May-Aug. precipitation (long term avg. 9.5 in.)

Below avg.; good June rainfall, but low July & Aug.
Below avg.; low July and Aug.
Above Average
Below avg., good July rainfall

Relative May-Aug. precipitation (long term avg. 9.5

inches)
2
Below avg.; good June rainfall, but low July & Aug.
3
Below avg.; low July and Aug.
4
Above Average
5
Below avg., good July rainfall

Yield Response to Narrowing

Rows from 30 to 7 inches (%)

Mandan, North Dakota1

Yield (bu/a)
Row Spacing
(inches)
19762 19773 19784 19795
6
8
1
16
12
18
11
3
17
13
36
10
3
18
11
LSD (0.05)
NS
0.6
NS
NS
1

Relative May-Aug. precipitation (long term avg.

9.5 in.)
2
Below avg.; good June rainfall, but low July &
Aug.
3
Below avg.; low July and Aug.
4
Above Average
5
Below avg., good July rainfall

Yield Response to Narrowing

Rows from 30 to 7 inches (%)

N Application
Rate (lbs/a)
0

Corsoy
+23

Williams
+24

Clark rj
-6

50

+29

+18

100

+29

+21

+7

200

+23

+23

+21

Yield Response to Narrowing

Rows from 30 to 7 inches (%)

N Application
Rate (lbs/a)
0

Corsoy
+23

Williams
+24

Clark rj
-6

N Application
Rate (lbs/a)
0

Corsoy
+23

Williams
+24

Clark rj
-6

50

+29

+18

50

+29

+18

100

+29

+21

+7

100

+29

+21

+7

200

+23

+23

+21

200

+23

+23

+21

Maturity Classification
and Growth Habit

EXTENSION RECOMMENDATION
Yield
Need

response to narrowing rows from 30

inches to 10 inches (%) for different
maturity groups (Wisconsin)

to know yield history. Why?

Yield response expected if interception of

solar radiation is limiting factor
Relatively high yields in wide rows - likely
response to narrowing rows
Relatively low yields in wide rows - some
factor other than interception of solar
radiation the major limiting factor; the
limiting factor(s) needs to be corrected
before narrowing rows

Group 0 ---------- 12.2

Group I ------------ 8.5
Group II ----------- 8.2

Difference due to plant size differences

Maturity Classification
and Growth Habit
Determinate

vs. Indeterminate growth

habit

Maturity Classification
and Growth Habit
Determinate

vs. Indeterminate growth

habit
Determinate due to smaller plant size

Maturity Classification
and Growth Habit
Determinate
Thinline

vs. Indeterminate growth habit

(slender) vs. Bushy Plant Type

Maturity Classification
and Growth Habit
Determinate
Thinline

vs. Indeterminate growth habit

(slender) vs. Bushy Plant Type

Thinline (slender) due narrower plant

Maturity Classification
and Growth Habit
Determinate
Thinline

vs. Indeterminate growth habit

(slender) vs. Bushy Plant Type

Planting

Date

Maturity Classification
and Growth Habit
Determinate
Thinline

vs. Indeterminate growth habit

(slender) vs. Bushy Plant Type

Planting

Date

Late planting date due to smaller plants during

early growth

Soybean Review

Variety selection

Maturity Classification
Photoperiod
Interactions with
temperature & elevation

1.5 to 2 inches
Adjust based upon soil
temp & moisture

Growth Habit
Indeterminate
Determinate

Canopy/Plant Type
Slender (Thin-line)
Bushy

Transgenes

Planting Depth

Planting Date
Photoperiod response
Early planting
More nodes
More pods
Higher yields
Plant height
R5 & Physiological maturity