Making the Replant Decision

No matter what – soybean growers often face the decision on whether or not to replant. DuPont Pioneer agronomists have a few factors they suggest soybean growers consider before making a final decision regarding replanting. One of those factors is stand assessment – which the agronomists say is often deceptive shortly after emergence. Next – they say growers should consider that seed treatments have an extra level of protection against early season insects and diseases for the plants that did or will emerge. The only way to calculate the difference between the current plant population and the goal population is to count plants – while counting questionable plants as one-half. From there – yield potential can be estimated. Agronomists say soybeans in the vegetative stage can compensate well for thin stands. Also – one-half of a stand may produce close to 90-percent of normal yield while one-fourth may produce 75-percent of normal yield. Agronomists say a stand of three to four plants per foot in 30-inch rows is acceptable – as long as there are no large gaps and weeds are controlled.