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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Production Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #279580

Title: Raised seedbeds for soybean in twin rows increase yields over flat seedbeds

Author
item Bruns, Herbert
item Young, Lawrence

Submitted to: Crop Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2012
Publication Date: 7/27/2012
Citation: Bruns, H.A., Young, L.D. 2012. Raised seedbeds for soybean in twin rows increase yields over flat seedbeds. Crop Management. doi:10.1094/CM-2012-0712-01-RS.

Interpretive Summary: It is frequently assumed that irrigated soybean grown on raised beds as opposed to a flat surface will produce higher yields. However, this has yet to be verified through research. Irrigated twin-row soybean of both a maturity group MG IV and MG V grown at different seeding rates and on raised beds generally averaged about 12 more bushels per acre yield in 2009 and 4.5 bushels per acre in 2010, than those planted on a flat surface. Some of this increase was due to raised beds having better seedling survival resulting in increased stands. Early season drought in 2010 reduced stands.

Technical Abstract: Irrigated soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) grown using raised beds often produces higher yields than crops grown on flat surfaces. However, research confirming this is limited. Two soybean cultivars were grown at Stoneville, MS in 25 cm twin-rows, spaced 102 cm between centers on raised beds and flat surfaces in 2009 and 2010. Seeding occurred in mid-April and was at 20, 30, 40, or 50 seeds m-2. Raised beds were furrow irrigated while flat seed beds were flooded. Raised beds resulted in a 0.3 Mgha-1 yield increase for both cultivars in 2010 and 0.8 Mgha-1 for one cultivar in 2009. Raised beds produced more plants m-2 in 2009 than 2010. Stands in 2010 were less than 2009 due to early drought. Pods per plant were greater in 2010 (69 to 76) than 2009 (49 to 58) but lower seed weights in 2010 (116 to 142 mg) compared to 2009 (159 to 181 mg) resulted in less yield in 2010 (3.1 to 4.1 Mgha-1) than 2009 (3.8 to 5.1 Mgha-1). Raised beds had at least a 0.2 Mgha-1 increase in yield for all seeding rates except 50 seeds m-2 which did not differ between bed type.