Soybean plant population density recommendations across the United States

Authors

• Giovani Preza Fontes, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignFollow
• Carrie Ortel, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Emma Macham, Ohio State University
• David Moseley, Louisiana State University
• Shawn Conley, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Chad Lee, University of KentuckyFollow
• Mark A. Licht, Iowa State University
• Laura E. Lindsey, Ohio State University
• Haleigh J. Ortmeier-Clarke, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Rachel Vann, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Maninder P. Singh, Michigan State University
• Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Jeremy Ross, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Jake McNeal, University of Tennessee
• Michael Plumblee, Clemson University
• Shaun Casteel, Agronomy Dep.
• Eros Francisco, Auburn University
• Michael J. Mulvaney, Mississippi State University
• Nicolas Cafaro La Menza, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Andre Froes de Borja Reis, University of Missouri
• Daniela Carrijo, The Pennsylvania State University
• Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Abstract

Rising production costs and declining commodity prices have compelled farmers to reassess their input and management strategies. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] seed costs, in particular, have continued to increase due to advances in biotechnology, higher-yielding germplasm, and available seed treatments, accounting for 32–35% of the total operational expenses in current soybean production systems. Optimizing seeding rate is therefore one area of consideration for improving profitability and maximizing return on investment. However, soybean yield response to plant population density is influenced by the combination of several factors, including water availability, temperature, radiation interception, planting practices, and crop growth and development. Unlike many other crops, soybean exhibits high phenotypic plasticity, allowing plants to adjust their growth and yield components (e.g., number of pods and seeds per plant) in response to varying plant population densities. As a result, the literature has shown that soybean can produce comparable yields across a wide range of plant population densities. The objectives of this management guide were to (i) provide an overview of factors influencing soybean yield response to seeding rate and plant population density and (ii) summarize recommendations by land grant university Extension agronomists across soybean-producing states in the United States.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2026

Notes/Citation Information

Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s). Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/cft2.70118

Archival?

Archival

Repository Citation

Preza Fontes, Giovani; Ortel, Carrie; Macham, Emma; Moseley, David; Conley, Shawn; Lee, Chad; Licht, Mark A.; Lindsey, Laura E.; Ortmeier-Clarke, Haleigh J.; Vann, Rachel; Singh, Maninder P.; Naeve, Seth; Ross, Jeremy; McNeal, Jake; Plumblee, Michael; Casteel, Shaun; Francisco, Eros; Mulvaney, Michael J.; La Menza, Nicolas Cafaro; de Borja Reis, Andre Froes; Carrijo, Daniela; and Nafziger, Emerson, "Soybean plant population density recommendations across the United States" (2026). Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications. 197.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_facpub/197