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Effect of Soil Water Potential of Two Soils on Soybean Emergence¹

Rapid, uniform emergence of seedlings from the soil is an important factor in crop production. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of soil water potential on rate and percentage of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] emergence from two soil types. ‘Tracy’ soybeans were planted in Sharkey clay (Vertic Haplaquept, very fine, montmorillonitic, thermic) and Dubbs silt loam (typic Hapludalf, fine-silty, mixed thermic) soils equilibrated to soil water potentials (SWP) of –0.1 to –0.7 bar in 0.1 bar increments. Emergence counts were made through 14 days after planting, and each emerging seedling was rated for morphological abnormalities.

Plants emerged from the Sharkey clay at a faster rate and over a wide range of SWP's than from the silt loam soil. Total emergence from the clay soil after 14 days was not significantly different over the range of SWP's used, and exceeded 81% in all treatments. However, significantly fewer plants emerged from the –0.1 and –0.7 bar potentials of the silt loam soil than from the –0.4 to 0.6 bar levels. The range of emergence from the silt loam was 31.7 to 90.0%. The trends for percentage of normal plants that emerged at each SWP level within each soil were the same as those for total emergence.

Based upon these results, rapid and uniform emergence of soybean seedlings can be expected if SWP of a fine-textured soil such as Sharkey clay is between –0.1 and –0.7 bar and that of a medium-textured soil, such as Dubbs silt loam is between –0.4 and –0.6 bar. The range is apparently more critical for the latter soil.

Key Words: Seed size • Percentage emergence • Clay • Silt loam

² Research agronomist and former research agronomist, respectively, USDA-SEA, Stoneville, MS.

Received for publication January 8, 1979.