Research importance
The primary purpose of this grant was to provide experimental learning opportunities to students, both those in class and those conducting field work. While this grant focused on educating students on the utility, advantages and disadvantages of altering row spacing in soybeans production, all aspects of the soybean production cycle were fair game when it came to providing hands-on learning opportunities to students.
Findings
For yield, the 22-inch treatment yielded 81.33 bu/ac, the 30-inch treatment yielded 62.67 bu/ac, and a combine repair mishap destroyed the 7.5-inch row yield data. As such, 100 seed weights were estimated to provide additional resolution since a third of the yield data was lost. The 7.5-inch row seeds had the highest weight at 19.1 grams, followed by the 30-inch rows at 18.83 grams, and finally the 22-inch rows at 17.65 grams.
No major differences in pest presence were noted other than a reduction of weeds in both the 7.5 inch and 22-inch row treatment.
The results of these plots were communicated in person, at the plot to 141 individuals, and 66 of which are students at SMSU in the 2025-2026 academic year so far. The plots have been used for four classes thus far, including AGRO 132 Crop Production, AGRO 250 Sustainable Gardening, AGRO 341 Pest Management and AGRO 390 Precision Agriculture.
A
Time series of canopy closure in our three row spacings. The 7.5 inch rows closed ~21 days prior to our other two treatments and had less weed pressure.
