2022
Evaluating Current Soybean Plant Population Recommendations to Improve Yield Efficiency
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Contributor/Checkoff:
New Jersey Soybean Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
DiseaseField management Pest
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Kate Brown, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
New Jersey Soybean Board
$900
Institution Funded:
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
$900
Brief Project Summary:
The profit margin for soybean farmers in New Jersey is shrinking. While the cost of inputs is often outside the farmers’ control, soybean farmers may be able to lower seed costs by reducing plant populations. Research has shown that soybean plants are able to modify their branching and per plant yield capacity to maintain a constant yield across a range of planting densities. Despite this, current New Jersey recommendations for planting density are based on older varieties. The objective of this project is to determine whether yield efficiency of full-season soybeans can be improved when the plant population (i.e. seed cost) is reduced.
Key Beneficiaries:
#agronomists, #extension agents, #farmers
Unique Keywords:
#agronomy, #plant population, #planting population, #seed rate, #seeding rate
Information And Results
Project Summary

The profit margin for soybean farmers in New Jersey is shrinking; inflation has driven up input costs and current supply chain disruptions have led to market volatility. While the cost of inputs is often outside the farmers’ control, soybean farmers may be able to lower seed costs by reducing plant populations. Research has shown that soybean plants are able to modify their branching and per plant yield capacity to maintain a constant yield across a range of planting densities. Despite this body of work, current recommendations for planting density are based on older varieties that lack the same ability for consistent productivity. The objective of this project is to determine whether yield efficiency – the yield (bu/a) times the selling price ($/bu) minus the input costs (e.g. seed, fertilizer, pesticides, labor, etc.) – of full-season soybeans can be improved when the plant population (i.e. seed cost) is reduced.

Project Objectives

Project Deliverables

In addition to the final project report shared with the NJSB, project results will be shared via multiple educational outreach methods including grower meetings and in written form on the Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory and on social media.

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

The outcome of this project will provide educational outreach opportunities and preliminary data to assist soybean growers in making plant population decisions.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.