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Narrow‐Row Production System for Soybeans in Mississippi Delta
Author(s) -
Smith Richard M.,
Kaur Gurpreet,
Orlowski John M.,
Singh Gurbir,
Chastain Daryl,
Irby Trent,
Krutz L. Jason,
Falconer Larry,
Cook Donald R.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
crop, forage and turfgrass management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.29
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2374-3832
DOI - 10.2134/cftm2019.02.0015
Subject(s) - row , canopy , sowing , row crop , mathematics , seeding , acre , agronomy , interception , yield (engineering) , weed , geography , biology , botany , physics , ecology , database , computer science , agriculture , thermodynamics , archaeology
Core Ideas Soybean yielded more in narrow row spacing compared to single row spacing. Soybean yielded more in twin‐row spacing than single row spacing at one location. Narrow row spacing resulted in a greater economic returns than single row spacing. The majority of irrigated soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in Mississippi are planted on raised beds spaced 38 to 40 inches apart. Recently, there has been an increased interest in planting soybean in narrower rows due to multiple potential benefits including increased light interception, improved weed control, and greater yield potential. Field studies were conducted at Stoneville, MS in 2016 and 2017 and at Hollandale, MS in 2016 to evaluate the effects of row spacing and seeding rates on irrigated soybean canopy closure, seed yield, and net returns. Row spacing treatments consisted of a single row (one plant row on a 40‐inch spaced bed), twin row (two paired plant rows spaced 8 inches apart planted on 40‐inch bed), and narrow row (four plant rows spaced 20 inches on an 80‐inch wide bed). Each row‐spacing treatment was also planted at seeding rates of 100,000, 140,000 and 180,000 seeds acre −1 . Canopy closure was greatest with the narrow‐row spacing followed by the twin‐ and single‐row spacing. Seed yield was 12% greater for the narrow‐row spacing compared to single‐row spacing. Net returns for row spacing followed the same trend as soybean seed yield at both locations. At Stoneville, a $62 acre −1 economic advantage was realized for the narrow‐row spacing compared with single‐ and twin‐row spacing. Results indicate that it would be economically beneficial for soybean producers in the Mississippi Delta to switch to either a twin‐row or narrow‐row spacing production system for furrow irrigated soybean.