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Phosphorus and Narrow Rows Boost Soybean Yields
 On a low phosphorus (P) soil in Minnesota, P boosted soybean yields under two different row spacings. Drs. Hansen and Rehm reported up to 27% yield increase in 7-inch rows and 31% yield increase in 30-inch rows.
Placement is a special concern when soybeans are planted in narrow rows (7 inches) with no-till planting systems. The application of phosphate fertilizer increased soybean yields for both tillage systems and each row spacing in the two systems. Yield increases were substantial, and the value of the increase is more than the cost of the phosphate fertilizer. When averaged over other factors, yields were higher when the fall chisel system is compared to the no-till system (47.2 bu/A vs. 44.2 bu/A). Yields were also higher when 7-inch rows are compared to 30-inch rows (53.4 bu/A vs. 38.0 bu/A).
Yields were also higher when 7-inch rows are compared to 30-inch rows (53.4 bu/A vs. 38.0 bu/A). The advantage of narrow rows was consistent for both tillage systems.
Tillage
system | Row
spacing
(inches) | P2O5 applied (lb/A) | Response
to P
bu/A |
0 | 23 | 46 | 69 | 92 |
 | | --------------------------- bu/A ----------------------------- |
Fall chisel | 7 | 44 | 52 | 56 | 58 | 60 | 16 |
| 30 | 30 | 38 | 32 | 43 | 45 | 15 |
No-till | 7 | 44 | 47 | 54 | 56 | 56 | 12 |
| 30 | 30 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 41 | 11 |
To provide more information about P responses in different tillage systems under wide and narrow row spacings, a detailed report from the University of Minnesota is attached:
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