By Maninder Singh and Benjamin Agyei et.al
Planting field crops takes time, and most growers manage large acreages that must be prepared and planted each season. Starting early in the spring, when field conditions are considered good enough, is key to finishing planting on time. The race to complete planting has become increasingly important in recent years due to more frequent heavy spring rains, which can leave fields too wet and delay planting for weeks.
Temperature and soil moisture are important weather factors that affect crop growth. A soil temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit is generally recommended for planting corn and soybean. This threshold ensures that seeds can absorb moisture and complete the germination and emergence process successfully. If soil temperatures drop below this threshold, it can cause chilling injury, slower germination and uneven plant stands.
Adequate amount of soil moisture ensures that planted seeds have water available to absorption for germination to proceed. However, excessive soil moisture depletes the soil of oxygen, causes seed rot and increases the risk of seedling diseases. Field operations in wet soil can also result in poor seed-to-soil contact and can also result in long-term compaction issues.
In early spring, soil temperatures fluctuate a lot and often drop below 50 F for several days. Additionally, heavy rains are frequent. As previously mentioned, low temperatures and wet soils impact emergence and plant stand which can subsequently lead to yield penalties. Understanding how planting time and associated field conditions impact corn and soybean growth and yield will provide clear guidance on which crop Michigan growers should prioritize at different times during the planting season.
Source : msu.edu