As soybeans have moved farther north in the North, so has the
problem with iron chlorosis. "In fields where it is bad, it's
really bad," says Jay Goos, a North Dakota State University soil
scientist. "The areas with chlorosis are getting bigger, too."
But Goos, who's extensively researched the yellowing soybean
leaves suffering from a lack of iron, says new research may
help. If growers would boost their seeding rates and plant iron
chlorosis-prone fields to 30" rows, rather than narrower
spacings, those beans would see less chlorosis damage. "Iron
chlorosis is more severe in soybeans grown in narrow rows rather
than in traditional 30" rows," he says. The reasons for this
aren't clear. Root zones of soybeans grown in crowded 30" rows
may dry out around the crown. Cultivation also helps dry the
soil. Wet, poorly drained soil seems to spur iron chlorosis on,
says Goos. In Goos' area, wheat and barley grow with no hassle
from iron chlorosis. But plant soybean seed on this Northern
ground, particularly if it's we