Agronomy: Q&A: Soybean Seeding Rate & Decrease in Lower Pods
Q: In soybeans, what would cause plants to pod extremely high off the ground, for example, not producing any pods on the bottom five nodes? It's occurring throughout a rainfed field planted in 15-inch rows at 180,000 plants per acre the last week of April. A: Jim Specht, UNL Emeritus Professor of Agronomy: High plant populations can result in very intensive plant-to-plant competition within the row. This year, because of high rainfall and little water stress, even rainfed fields are generating 60 bu/ac yields. However, when you have lush moisture conditions, you will also have lush large leaves on [...]
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