Soybean Planting in Your Plots Six Quick Helpful Hints
Many deer food plot planters are interested in soybeans for warm season planting. Many a large whitetail has had the benefit of soybeans for added nutrition and antler growth. There are a few important points that may make your efforts at this plant more successful in your food plots.
1. Soybean seed are more sensitive to rough handling prior to and during the planting operation. Their chemical composition and thin seed coat make them more prone to damage then other grain seed. Therefore, do not drop bags of seed and be sure planters, particularly drills, are adjusted so the seed coat is not broken during the planting operation.
2. Soybean seed requires more water for germination then many other grain crops. This is the reason the old adage “if the soil is dry, don’t try” is appropriate for soybean establishment. In addition to adequate soil moisture, there should be good seed to soil contact to assure adequate water movement into the seed.
3. Soybeans can be established with any tillage-planting system. It is critical however; that enough tillage occur to provide a seedbed that is adequate for proper planter operation.
4. Seed should be placed 1 to 1.5 inches deep. Planters should be adjusted so that the seed depth is as uniform as possible.
5. The optimum planting date for soybean is the same as the optimum date for corn. It is normally suggested however, to plant corn first and then immediately start planting soybeans. This is because corn tends to be more responsive to early planting.
6. It is critical to triple the rate of inoculant when planting a field that soybeans have never been grown. Use a normal rate when soybeans have been grown within the past four or five years.
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