Thicker seeding rates can enhance plant and pod height, which is especially important on sandy soils or with late-planted soybeans that tend to have shorter plants.
Higher seeding rates can provide a buffer against the need to replant due to light to moderate stand reduction events such as hail.
Higher seeding rates enable quicker canopy closure, which can be a benefit in drought- and/or heat-prone environments. High levels of heat reflected from the soil surface can reduce early vegetative growth.
Quicker canopy closure due to higher seeding rates can also benefit in weed control strategies by providing shade to slow down or inhibit weed emergence and early growth
