Soil Crusting in Soybean
Soil crusting occurs when a hard layer forms on tilled soils after a rain event. Crusting may limit a soybean emergence, and as a result, plants may be bent or twisted, have broken hypocotyls, or potentially die. A loss of stand may be confused for seedling disease or herbicide injury.
Soybean seedling with crusted soil.
Tristan Mueller
Soybean seedlings with crusted soil.
Tristan Mueller
Management strategies for soil crusting include soil surface residue management to help reduce impact of heavy rainfall, decreasing seed spacing within the row, and planting in warmer soil where emergence happens more quickly. In last resort situations, a rotary hoe can be used to break a crust.
Prepared and reviewed by the Science for Success team and the Integrated Pest Management Program at Iowa State University.
Seedling soybeans emerging through crusted soil.
Soybean seedling emerging through crusted soil.
Soybean seedlings emerging through crusted soil.
Gallery images courtesy Tristan Mueller.
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