The Agronomists, Ep 99: Managing residue ahead of soybeans with Horst Bohner and Dr. Yvonne Lawley
by RealAgriculture Agronomy Team
If soybeans need a cozy warm seedbed to get rolling, tillage is a must, right? Well, no and no.
Emerging research suggests that cool soil isn’t nearly the detriment to soybean growth once thought, which also means working an entire field for spring “warm up” isn’t required either. To dig in to managing residue ahead of soybeans, we go to Horst Bohner, with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Dr. Yvonne Lawley, with the University of Manitoba, to get the answers.
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Summary
It’s episode 99! The great one? Maybe, we’ll see
Soybeans can really surprise
We underestimate new genetics at times, Horst says
Manitoba had its surprising yields last year, too
So let’s dig in — do soybeans need “black dirt”?
Fall field work vs. spring
In Ontario, nearly want a drought in April
For Manitoba, fall field work is common, but need enough residue to keep soil in place
It doesn’t matter where the beans grow, rain during pod fill makes or breaks yield
Residue holding moisture late in the season is more of a Manitoba issue
Big question: should beans go in before corn?
It depends! But there often is an early window that can be the biggest yielder
What about cold soil?
Cold soil is not nearly the threat it was thought to be
A cold rain directly after planting isn’t good, but cool temperatures shouldn’t stop you
In Manitoba, what about before canola?
Flea beetle risk might make it more common
Soy or corn after canola might be delayed early but as soils warm up, they’ll catch up
A poor-looking soy crop early on isn’t necessarily a bad thing
Early planting in to dry soil, even if it’s cool, is ok
Horst is hooking up the tractor next week — and he’s going to plant beans in the first good window (maybe March?)
Tillage does warm up soil, but how much is enough, too much?
The sweet spot (of keeping residue on the field and warming up the ground and keeping residue out of the row) of strip till really did what it should
This was done in the fall, vs spring tillage
Spring tillage leaves more residue for the fall and spring, but can cause a crunch in the spring
Plant stands in tilled fields can be stronger/higher, but it doesn’t always translate to yield
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