A Visual and Practical Guide to Soybean Growth and Development
Achieving consistently high-yielding and quality soybeans starts with a greater understanding of how the crop grows and what it needs at each stage of development.
A visual soybean guide from the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a comprehensive, visual breakdown of each stage of development to help you better understand how these crops progress. It helps identify each stage of growth in the field to help make more timely and informed decisions throughout the growing season.
Soybean growth is divided into two main stages: vegetative growth and reproductive growth. The vegetative stages set the foundation for the plant’s structure, root system, and size. During the early stages of vegetative growth, soybean plants rely on their cotyledons to supply initial nutrients with an increasing reliance on nitrogen fixation throughout each stage. After the vegetative stages of growth, reproductive stages develop the seed yield and require increasing amounts of nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, throughout each stage.
From the development of leaf nodes and axillary buds to nutrient uptake patterns and signs of disease, the guide gives a detailed visual overview of how soybean plants grow and how management affects each stage. You’ll find diagrams and detailed images that illustrate each phase of growth to help you better identify them in the field, including a three-pronged approach to growth staging.
The guide is a valuable tool for soybean growers and agronomists aiming to optimize nutrient management plans and crop production practices. By taking a closer look at the specific stages of soybean development, you’ll be able to implement stronger management plans and fertilizer programs.
Download the full guide to enhance your crop production this season.
Learn more about soybean’s growth stages and explore sound management practices you can implement this season with the following eKonomics resources:
Soybean Nutrient Management Guide
