Is Late Bean Planting
On Your Mind?
Late May and Early June Bean Planting
Considerations for 2009
by Dr. Lanny Ashlock, Cullum Seeds Agronomist
Situation: Although late May and early June is a good planting period for MG 5 varieties, many well adapted mid to late MG 4 varieties also excel when planted during this same period. One of the advantages of planting soybeans varieties of different maturity, different maturity groups (MG’s), is that it also often helps spread out production risks common to the mid-South.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the well adapted indeterminate MG 4 (just as the determinate (MG 5 varieties, et.al.) soybean plants have the ability to respond or adjust to the production environment (i.e. thin stands, various row widths and to some extent differences in planting date). Recent data compiled from several mid-south universities suggest that the well adapted MG 4 bean varieties do obtain adequate plant height and produced good (even outstanding yields) at rather late planting dates when soil moisture needs were met.
The table below includes information obtained from the UA Variety Testing program for the years 2006-2008 from experiment station locations of different latitudes. This information provides insight to the adaptability and stability of select Armor and Delta King Soybean MG 4 & 5 varieties across the different production environments (latitude, row width, planting date and soil type). Please note that within the table, the blue color denotes the silt loam location and the silt loam adapted varieties while the red color depicts the clay locations and the gumbo adapted varieties.
Conclusions: Variation in plant height relates to either genetic or by year-to-year differences within location. As expected, the higher lodging ratings occurred at the Lon Mann Cotton Branch Experiment Station (LMCBES) location (productive Dundee Silt Loam soil) and with the gumbo adapted varieties. Maturity dates were consistent with their maturity ratings and tended to be rather constant even into the early June planting. Yield (data not shown) for both the MG 4 and MG 5 varieties typically exceeded 50-60+ Bu/A.
Key Management Tips
- Soil specific Armor and Delta King mid to late MG 4 varieties perform well at mid-May to early-June plantings especially north of I-40, when there is adequate soil moisture.
- Armor and Delta King MG 5 soil type specific varieties are well adapted throughout the mid-south for May and June plantings.
- Mid-south dryland bean producers should probably place emphasis on planting MG 5 varieties especially south of I-40.
