Evaluation of seedbed preparation, planting method, and herbicide alternatives for dryland soybean production

The current economic situation provides incentives for producers to reduce input costs. Examples include reduced herbicide rates and an array of plant ing methods that utilize new herbicide and equipment technologies. This stu dy investigated the implications of seedbed preparation (conventional vs. c onservation tillage), planting equipment (broadcast, drill, no-till drill, air seeder, and planter), and herbicide alternatives [full-rate preplant fo llowed by full-rate over the top (FRI), reduced-rate preplant followed by r educed-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 Tre e, AR) with two cropping systems (full season vs. double-cropped). While so me yield differences were observed across seedbed preparation and planting equipment, they did not lead to consistent results. Conventional and conser vation tillage were the preferred production strategies for full-season and double-cropped systems, respectively. Seasonal labor, weather, and scale o f operation are expected to play a major role because planting equipment di d not impact yields or cost. Herbicide programs did not affect yields. Lowe r costs through reduced-rate herbicide applications led to higher returns a nd lo cr er financial risk without restricting the planting method. Both th e FROT and RRI weed control sl stems lead to higher returns compared with t he FRI system. Producers concerned with the lack of residual herbicide acti vity. afforded by preplant herbicides would be expected to choose the RRI s ystem at the cost of slightly lon er net returns in the full-season system.