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Effects of Plant and Row Spacing on Dryland Soybean Yield and Water-Use Efficiency¹

Data on effects of plant and row spacing on yield of soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] have given conflicting results. Most such experiments were conducted under conditions of little or no water stress. The experiments reported here, conducted under more severe stress conditions, broaden the water-availability spectrum covered. Each spring, 1976 through 1979, soybeans were seeded on Temvik silt loam (fine-silty, mixed Typic Haploborolls) at Mandan, N.D., in row widths of 15, 45, and 90 cm, and at within-row spacings of 11, 15, and 23 cm, which resulted in plant populations of 48,000 to 580,000 plantsha.

Soil water depletion by soybeans was generally confined to the upper 90-cm soil depth. Average (4-year) water use was 23.6 cm, and was not significantly affected by plant spacing. In 2 of the 4 years, total water use was greatest and average soybean yields were least Prom the 15-cm row width. Within-row spacing affected yields in only 1 of the 4 years.

Water-use efficiency was least for 15-cm rows in 3 of the 4 years. These data suggest that planting in 15-cm rows enhances water use prior to flowering. In extreme drought situations, this enhanced earlyseason water use leaves less water available for pod-fill, and seed yields may be reduced accordingly. Under less severe water stress, however, plant and row spacing has no affect on soybean yield.

Key Words: Dryland soybean production • Evapotranspiration • Water-use efficiency • Row spacing • Plant population

² Soil scientists, Northern Great Plains Research Center, Mandan, ND 58554. Alessi is now retired, and Power is at Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583.

Received for publication September 18, 1981.

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