4. First trifoliate (V1) 5. Third trifoliate (V3) 6. No rolling Following the treatments the following data was collected: and runoff •Water infiltration •Plant population injury •Plant •Yield •Seed quality characteristics (protein, oil, moisture, test weight) During the three year study, there were no significant differences in stand, average yield, or seed quality among the treatments. The study also concluded that soybeans may be safely rolled up to the third trifoliate growth stage, or V3, when soybean plants are about 4-6 inches tall. Plant Damage and How Late Can You Roll One of the most practical questions for farmers is soybeans can be rolled without “How late cutting into Rolling is usually done immediately before or after planting, but delays for yield?”. wet weather or spring workload are common. In general, wheel tracks caused more plant damage to emerged soybeans than the rollers themselves. Soybeans rolled at V3 suffered significant plant damage at two of the four research sites in 2010 (Table 1, Figure 6). However, greater plant damage did not always reduce yields. Caution should be taken in wet years, where stem injuries caused by rolling could make plants more susceptible to soil-borne diseases. At two sites, rolling after V3 increased goose-necking and lodging. Table 1. Impact on plant population and injury when soybeans were rolled at different stages compared to non-rolled soybean in Minnesota. Effect of Rolling on Soybean Population and Plant Injury Treatment 2009 2010 2009 2010 --- Avg. Pop. 1,000 plants/acre --- --- % Plants Injured --- Pre-plant 158 160 -- --
4. First trifoliate (V1) 5. Third trifoliate (V3) 6. No rolling Following the treatments the following data was collected: •Water infiltration and runoff •Plant population •Plant injury •Yield •Seed quality characteristics (protein, oil, moisture, test weight) During the three year study, there were no significant differences in stand, average yield, or seed quality among the treatments. The study also concluded that soybeans may be safely rolled up to the third trifoliate growth stage, or V3, when soybean plants are about 4-6 inches tall. Plant Damage and How Late Can You Roll One of the most practical questions for farmers is “How late soybeans can be rolled without cutting into yield?”. Rolling is usually done immediately before or after planting, but delays for wet weather or spring workload are common. In general, wheel tracks caused more plant damage to emerged soybeans than the rollers themselves. Soybeans rolled at V3 suffered significant plant damage at two of the four research sites in 2010 (Table 1, Figure 6). However, greater plant damage did not always reduce yields. Caution should be taken in wet years, where stem injuries caused by rolling could make plants more susceptible to soil-borne diseases. At two sites, rolling after V3 increased goose-necking and lodging. Table 1. Impact on plant population and injury when soybeans were rolled at different stages compared to non-rolled soybean in Minnesota. Effect of Rolling on Soybean Population and Plant Injury Treatment 2009 2010 2009 2010 --- Avg. Pop. 1,000 plants/acre --- --- % Plants Injured --- Pre-plant 158 160 -- --