MONITORING SPRING CONDITIONS IN THE MIDWEST
EARLY-PLANT SOYBEAN GERMINATION PROCESS
Planting is anticipated to begin for many growers in Nebraska in the next few weeks. Based on formal research reports showing increased yields, we have recommended early soybean planting beginning mid- to late-April. This article will take a deeper look into the research on the soybean germination process, particularly when chilling injury can occur, and factors to consider when planting soybeans early.
Soybean Germination Phase: Imbibition
The first soybean germination stage is called the imbibitional phase in which a very fast water uptake typically occurs in less than 24 hours. It can also occur with relatively little soil moisture. A study by UNL researcher W.J. Bramlage et al. showed that when the soybean seed coat was removed, imbibition injury occurred within 30 minutes. With a seed coat, imbibition is slower and a longer exposure would be needed before chilling injury occurs. McDonald Jr. et al. found that the seed coat extended the duration of the imbibition phase to 8 hours. Specht and Rees have amended Table 1 from their study to show the rate at which water uptake occurred in…
IN YOUR AREA
Live in the Midwest? We serve Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. This month we have conducted appraisals in:
NEBRASKA: Thurston, Butler, Antelope, Custer, Phelps, Merrick, Lancaster, Kearney
KANSAS: Phillips
IOWA: Page, Humboldt, Cherokee, Sac, Cerro Gordo
COLD SOIL & EARLY CORN PLANTING
Mid-April approaches and days slowly grow longer. But, irrespective of the calendar, soil temperatures at 4 inches hovered around 40⁰F early this week and seven-day lows stayed near freezing. Our hopes for an early start to the corn planting season may be futile. Nevertheless, warmer temperatures in the forecast will quickly alleviate our concerns and encourage a good start to the planting season. We’ll address here our thinking on planting corn in cold soils as well as the question in our title: Is planting early always best?
What if it Does Stay Cool and Damp?
What do we need to keep in mind as we consider planting corn? This question was summarized last year in CropWatch. Let’s review some of the points we made then.
Before planting, check the weather forecast and soil temperatures for your area. It’s wise to check the soil temperature of each field early in the morning you intend to plant. Wet soils or fields with more crop residue tend to have lower soil temperatures relative to drier soils or fields with less crop residue. Check the seed tag or check with your seed dealer regarding the cold tolerance of your corn hybrids. Be aware that hybrids vary in cold tolerance and company rating scales differ. Cold tests can help ascertain seed viability. Let’s review ideas on cold stress.
HAPPY EASTER
TESTIMONIAL
