Evaluation of Planter Errors Associated with Twin‐Row Soybean Production in Mississippi

Core Ideas The number of planter errors is associated with twin‐row planters. Whole planter error reduced soybean yield compared with None on both soil textures. Single and separate planter error did not reduce yield. Replanting a soybean crop for any planter error is not economically beneficial.Twin‐row planting of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] has become a popular practice in Mississippi and in much of the midsouthern United States. With the use of twin‐row planters, there is the potential for a number of planter errors. However, there is little information on the effect of twin‐row planter errors on soybean growth, seed yield, and replant decisions. Field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Mississippi to evaluate the effects of planter errors for four soybean varieties of different relative maturity groups (4.2, 4.7, 4.9, and 5.4) on soybean seed yield, canopy closure, and replant decisions for two soil textures (clay and sandy loam) commonly used for soybean production in Mississippi. Four planter errors associated with the twin‐row planting system included a control (None) consisting of the full intended stand with two normal twin rows within a bed, one single row from a twin‐row pair missing (Single), one row of a twin row pair missing in two adjacent rows (Separate), and both twin rows within a row missing (Whole). Whole planter error reduced soybean yield compared with None by 11 and 12% on clay and sandy loam soils, respectively. However, Single and Separate planter error did not reduce yield compared with None. Results indicate that it would not be economically beneficial to replant a soybean crop for any planter error at current soybean prices.