irrigation considerations for
high-yield soybeans
Subscribe to our email newsletter!
Soybean growers meet a high demand for a product that has a variety of uses. According to the American Soybean Association (2019), one bushel of soybeans can provide approximately
11 pounds of soybean oil, or 48 pounds of protein-rich meal. Soybeans also are used to create biodiesel and are exported throughout the globe in whole, meal or oil form. Soybean production in the United States has expanded significantly throughout the past decade. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2019), 2.65 billion bushels were harvested in 1999. In 2018, the total harvest was 4.42 billion bushels. Although soybean cropland has increased, higher yields are also contributing to production increases. In 1999, 36.6 bushels per acre was the average U.S. soybean yield. In 2016, the U.S. average soybean yield reached a record high of 51.9 bushels per acre. Advanced irrigation technology provides precision water application that contributes to high yields. An understanding of when to irrigate and what variables affect irrigation management decisions coupled with real-time field data, help growers make the most of their investments in irrigation. Troy Ingram, Irrigated Cropping Systems Extension educator with University of Nebraska, works with soybean growers in central Nebraska. He recommends using a soil moisture sensor for precise irrigation scheduling. “If you know how much water is in the soil and how much the crop is using each day with the ET (evapotranspiration) number, then you can do a really good job of scheduling irrigation for whatever crop you’re irrigating,” Ingram said. Evapotranspiration (ET) is a measure of how much water is evaporated from the soil and transpired by the plant. |
|
Soybean Growth Stages and Water Stress
With soybeans, in particular, it’s important to understand the plant’s growth stages and its water usage at each stage. Research by Kranz and Specht (2012) in Nebraska points to success with stage-of-growth irrigation scheduling. This approach works only with medium to fine-textured soils. A soil moisture sensor can be valuable when using this scheduling method to determine if the soil water reservoir is sufficient at planting time.
After planting, soybeans enter vegetative growth stages, which begins with seed germination and emergence, and follows through the development of nodes on the stem. Soybeans use more water during its reproductive stages, which begin with the first flower and follow through pod development and seed enlargement. Water use peaks during pod development and seed fill. Soybean plants also are more susceptible to water stress, which leads to yield loss, during these stages. Irrigation Scheduling
|
Irrigation Scheduling |
Recommended Irrigation Systems |
References: |
American Soybean Association. (2019). Soybean facts
Kranz, W. L. & Specht, J. E. (2012). Irrigating soybean. University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension |
Melvin, S.R. & Martin, D.L. (2018). Irrigation scheduling strategies when using soil water data.
University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension United States Department of Agriculture. (2019). Statistics by subject. |
PRODUCTS |
FIND A DEALER |
RESOURCES |
ABOUT |
© 2021 REINKE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED