Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension CenterNorth Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2744, FAX: (701) 742-2700, E-mail: Walter.Albus@ndsu.edu

SOYBEAN ROW WIDTH STUDY

W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger

 

Results summary

Table 30. Results of the soybean row spacing study at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site in 2006.

 

           Some interest has been generated growing soybeans in paired rows on 30-inch row centers.  The paired rows can vary from 7.5 to 10 inches

apart.  The idea is to gain some of the yield advantage of narrow rows while retaining the ability to drive narrow treaded sprayers through fields with

out destroying crops.  Paired rows facilitate more wind movement through the plant canopy versus narrow rows, reducing sclerotinia infestations. 

The objective of this study was to determine the yield response of soybeans in paired rows on 30-inch centers to soybeans grown in 15 and 30-inch rows.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

 

Soil:

Maddock sandy loam; pH=6.8; 2.0% organic matter; soil-P and soil-K were very high; soil-S was medium.

Previous crop:

2005 - field corn and sweet corn; 2004 - sweet corn; 2003 - cabbage and pumpkin.

Seedbed Preparation:

Fall disk.  Multiweed (field cultivate) twice on May 9 to smooth the seedbed and incorporate herbicide.

Planting:

Planted on May 10 in 30-inch, 30-inch paired (2 rows 10-inches apart on 30-inch centers) and 15-inch row spacing at 174,500 seeds/acre.  All beans were inoculated just prior to planting.

Plots:

Plots were 51 ft long by 10 ft (4 rows in the 30-inch and 30-inch paired rows and 8 rows in the 15 inch rows) wide.  There were four reps.

Fertilizer:

On April 10, broadcast 20 lbs N/acre, 45 lbs P2O5/acre, 51 lbs K2O/acre and 13 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24, 11-52-0 and 0-0-60.

Irrigation:

Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed.

Pest control:

Treflan (pt/acre on May 9), Glyphosate Original + NIS + AMS (1 qt/acre + 0.05%v/v + 1 lb/10gal on June 1 and June 18) and Fusilade + MSO (8 oz/acre + 1 pt/acre on June 28) for weed control and Warrior (3 oz/acre on August 24) for control of soybean aphids.

Harvest:

Harvested on October 2 with a Hege plot combine.  A five-foot section from the middle of each plot was harvested; the two middle rows were harvested from the 30-inch and the 30-inch paired rows, and the four middle rows from the plots with15 inch row spacing.

 

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RESULTS

 

           There was no significant difference among row spacing for yield, lodging or test weight.  There was a tendency for the 30-inch paired

rows to lodge more than 15 or 30-inch rows.  The 30-inch paired rows and the 15-inch wide rows tended to have a higher incidence of sclerotinia. 

These factors may have limited yield in 30-inch paired and 15-inch rows.

 

 

Table 30. Results of the soybean row spacing study at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site in 2006.

 

Yield

Test weight

Lodging

row spacing

bu/acre

lb/bu

 

15-inch

60.5

57.1

4.4

30-inch

62.2

57.2

4.5

30-inch paired

59.5

57.0

4.9

 

 

 

 

Experimental mean

60.7

57.1

4.6

LSD (0.05)

NS

NS

NS

C.V. (%)

5.6

0.6

12.1

 

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Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site Variety Performance Trials

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site crop index

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2006 Annual Report

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