On-Farm Trials Find Fertilizer and Row Spacing Have Minimal Impact on Soybean Yields

Jul 21, 2025

By Field Advisor

Project Leaders: Dan Schaefer, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association; Jason Solberg, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association; Eric Miller, Piatt County Farmer; Giovani Preza Fontes, University of Illinois

Purpose: In most corn-soybean rotations, fertilizer applications are typically made to maximize corn yields, with less consideration of its impact on soybean yields. This project tests how direct soybean fertilization affects yields and evaluates the potential return on investment compared to conventional soybean production.

Approach: On-farm trials in central Illinois were conducted in 2023 and 2024 to test yield response to controlled-release N, P, K, and S fertilizers in a strip-till system. Products tested included controlled-release urea with a 140-day delay before release, along with potash, Mosaic Aspire, Mosaic MESZ, and pelletized gypsum. The trials also compared 15” and 30” row spacing. The plot followed an omission-style layout to evaluate each fertilizer’s contribution to yield. The treatments in 2024 were modified to add more combinations as a result of 2023 yield results. This study was funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff program.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.