HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Popp, M. P. Articles by Manning, P. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Popp, M. P. Articles by Manning, P. M. Agricola Articles by Popp, M. P. Articles by Manning, P. M. Related Collections Weed Management Soybean Economics Agricultural Pesticides Dryland Cropping Systems Production Agriculture Other Soil Management Tillage

SOYBEAN

Evaluation of Seedbed Preparation, Planting Method, and Herbicide Alternatives for Dryland Soybean Production

^a Dep. of Agric. Econ. and Agribusiness, 221 Agric. Building, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
^b Dep. of Crop, Soil, and Environ. Sci., 276 Altheimer Drive, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
^c Dep. of Agric. Econ., 403 Agric. Engineering Building no. 2, Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0276 USA
^d Dep. of Crop, Soil, and Environ. Sci., Univ. of Arkansas Northeast Res. and Ext. Cent., P.O. Box 48, Keiser, AR 72351 USA
^e Dep. of Agric. Econ. and Agribusiness, 221 Agric. Building, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA

mpopp{at}comp.uark.edu

The current economic situation provides incentives for producers to reduce input costs. Examples include reduced herbicide rates and an array of planting methods that utilize new herbicide and equipment technologies. This study investigated the implications of seedbed preparation (conventional vs. conservation tillage), planting equipment (broadcast, drill, no-till drill, air seeder, and planter), and herbicide alternatives [full-rate preplant followed by full-rate over the top (FRI), reduced-rate preplant followed by reduced-rate over the top (RRI), and full-rate over the top by itself (FROT)] for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] at two locations (Keiser and Pine Tree, AR) with two cropping systems (full season vs. double-cropped). While some yield differences were observed across seedbed preparation and planting equipment, they did not lead to consistent results. Conventional and conservation tillage were the preferred production strategies for full-season and double-cropped systems, respectively. Seasonal labor, weather, and scale of operation are expected to play a major role because planting equipment did not impact yields or cost. Herbicide programs did not affect yields. Lower costs through reduced-rate herbicide applications led to higher returns and lower financial risk without restricting the planting method. Both the FROT and RRI weed control systems lead to higher returns compared with the FRI system. Producers concerned with the lack of residual herbicide activity afforded by preplant herbicides would be expected to choose the RRI system at the cost of slightly lower net returns in the full-season system.

Abbreviations: CES, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service • FRI, full-rate preplant and over-the-top herbicide applications • FROT, full rate over-the-top herbicide applications • GLM, General Linear Models • GMO, genetically modified organism • IT, implement train • MSBG, Mississippi State Budget Generator • OT, over the top • PPI, preplant incorporated • RRI, reduced-rate preplant and over-the-top herbicide applications

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. J. Kucharik A Multidecadal Trend of Earlier Corn Planting in the Central USA Agron. J., October 3, 2006; 98(6): 1544 - 1550. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]