By ANN HINCH
Assistant Editor ROSSVILLE, Ill. — A Vermilion County test plot in Illinois previously planted to corn was the site of one of many Midwest soybean tests this year for Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies (F.I.R.S.T.).
This particular test was conducted at the Kevin Weinard farm in Rossville in east-central Illinois, near the Indiana state line. The soil for this test was Milford silty clay loam, non-irrigated and moderately drained with moderately high potassium and phosphate.
F.I.R.S.T. Manager Eric Beyer planted the plot on May 27 at 140,000 seeds per acre and harvested the finished beans at 104,500 plants per acre on Oct. 20. (See results details below.)
The top-yielding in this test of 54 varieties was FS Seeds’ HS33A02, at 67.9 bushels per acre and with a gross per-acre income of $754.50. Coming in second was Channel variety 3303R2, with a yield of 66.9 bushels and an income of $743. 90 per acre.
In the number-three spot was Stone variety 2R3401, at 65.3 bushels per acre and an income of $725.20. Yielding the fourth highest amount of beans was the Kruger K2-3402 variety, with 64.8 bushels per acre and an income of $719.70. Rounding out the top five spots was Channel 3402R2, also with 64.8 bushels per acre but a gross income of $719.50, just 20 cents less per acre than Kruger.
Moisture and lodging for these five varieties were both lower than the average of all 54 seed types (which were 7.6 and 0.7 percent, respectively). The average yield of all varieties was 59.6.
Beyer reported that this site displayed good uniform plant emergence and singulation within rows, and the harvested seeds “had excellent seed coat quality” and their sizes ranged from 3,300-4,000 seeds per pound.
“Plants were average heights of 35 to 48 inches, with lower pod placement around two inches above the soil,” Beyer noted. “Numerous plants had reduced podding in the top foot; perhaps from the high August heat?”
To learn more about the winning varieties and particulars of treatment, visit www.firstseedtests.com |
