Agronomic Evaluation of a High-Speed Planter in Soybean Production.

Timely and quality planting of soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] is very important to achieve high yields. Spring soil and weather conditions in Indiana frequently shortens the time window for farmers to plant crops within optimal conditions. New planter technology has been introduced that enables farmers to plant their fields faster than with traditional planters. Such technology can be beneficial to complete timely planting if the increased speed does not impact agronomic performance of soybean.

Large plot field studies were conducted near West Lafayette, IN in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate a high-speed planter at various planting speeds with multiple seeding rates on soybean seedling emergence, plant distribution and final yield. Three planting speeds (8, 12, and 16 KPH [5, 7.5, and 10 MPH]) and two seeding rates (222,500 and 321,000 seeds ha^-1 [90,000 and 130,000 seeds ac^-1]) were included in both years, and an additional planting speed and seeding rate was included in 2016 (20 KPH [12.5 MPH] and 420,000 seeds ha^-1 [170,000 seeds ac^-1], respectively). Soybeans were planted into no-till ground in 2015 and into conventionally tilled field in 2016 with 5 and 3 replications, respectively, on 0.76m row spacing.

Overall planting speed did not impact soybean seedling emergence. Plant spacing uniformity has slightly decreased as the planting speed increased from 8 to 20 KPH in 2016 likely due to incomplete emergence from the cool and wet weather condition immediately following planting. Final grain yield was not affected either by planting speeds or by seeding rate in either year.

Based on the two years results, increasing planting speed can be achieved without yield penalty in soybean and can lead to shortened planting time with new planter technology.