It’s Not Too Late to Inoculate: Ensure Double Crop Soybean Success

Double cropping? A soybean inoculant can avoid challenges and maximize yields

Double cropping soybeans after wheat or other crops is an excellent strategy for increasing cash flow. But farmers planting double crop soybeans know that in order to be successful, they need to give the plants every possible advantage to thrive.

Given that these soybeans are planted later in the season, they inherently face factors that often lead to lower yields. However, it’s not too late to make a significant impact with a soybean inoculant.

The Importance of Inoculation for Late-Planted Soybeans

Double cropping soybeans after wheat or other crops presents unique challenges, primarily due to the later planting dates. These plants require adequate support to jumpstart the root growth, nitrogen fixation and nutrient uptake they require to perform.

Research and field results show that inoculation is a crucial investment for enhancing growth, and ultimately yields, in double crop soybeans. In regions such as Kansas and Oklahoma, where hot and harsh conditions further challenge soybean growth, double inoculation has even become a common practice.

How Inoculants Work: The Benefits of Nitrogen Fixation

Soybean inoculants help fix nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation is a key benefit that is important to the success of crop growth—especially in late-planted plants like double crop soybeans.

Soybeans require significantly more nitrogen than other crops, about four times more per bushel than corn. To produce one bushel of grain, soybeans need at estimated five pounds of nitrogen (N). Between 50% to 75% of this nitrogen comes from nitrogen-fixing nodules on the soybean roots. These nodules are composed of colonies of the beneficial bacteria Rhizobium. They convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can by the soybean plant.

>READ MORE: THE IMPORTANCE OF ROOT GROWTH IN SOYBEANS

Enhancing the number and effectiveness of nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots is key to meeting this high nitrogen demand. However, poor soil quality and field conditions can cause low nodulation.

Soybean inoculants enhance the formation of these nodules, ensuring soybeans receive the nitrogen they need for robust growth.

Documented Yield Increases with Soybean Inoculants

Multiple studies and field trials confirm that inoculation increases yield in double crop soybeans. For example, a University of Arkansas study evaluated various planting dates and inoculants on soybean yields. Results demonstrated significant yield increases when using inoculants for late plantings.

In the study, soybeans inoculated during mid-June planting showed a yield increase of 6 bushels per acre compared to untreated checks. Inoculated soybeans planted in mid-July showed nearly double that yield increase.

Soybean Farmers Inoculate with Agricultural Biologicals

Soybean farmers across the US have found that certain agricultural biologicals are a highly effective soybean inoculant, especially in late plantings. Many are specifically using Locus Agriculture’s Rhizolizer^® Prime for Soybeans. The unique biological product combines beneficial fungus (Trichoderma) and bacteria (Bacillus) strains with a Bradyrhizobia inoculant.

Statistically significant data shows a 95% or higher success rate using the synergistic strains. Soybean farmers confirm seeing:

• Earlier and Better Root Growth: Rhizolizer Prime for Soybean promotes early root growth by inoculating seeds with beneficial bacteria. Field trials have confirmed larger and more effective root systems, including increased root size, more extensive taproots, higher numbers of root hairs, reduced root restriction and enhanced formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules.
• Better Nutrient Uptake: The beneficial microorganisms in Rhizolizer Prime for Soybean also mineralize soil nutrients, making them accessible to the growing plants. This ensures that soybeans can uptake them more efficiently, supporting vigorous growth.
• Higher Soybean Yields: All of the above factors are important for nutrient absorption, soybean plant stability and robust growth. By enhancing root development and nutrient uptake, Rhizolizer Prime for Soybean helps maximize yields and, consequently, increases income per acre. Field trials confirm an average 5% or 3.1 bushel increase per acre.

It’s Not Too Late to Inoculate

It’s not too late for farmers to ensure their soybeans thrive and they achieve the high yields they’re aiming for this season. But with only a short window left for double cropping soybeans, it’s crucial to act quickly.

Many soybean farmers have found that using Rhizolizer Prime for Soybeans as an inoculant gives them the best chance to succeed. The product is available for immediate, expedited shipping across the country. Made in the USA, these biological treatments are designed to maximize soybean performance with reliable and effective inoculation.

>READ MORE: WHY PRECISION MATTERS WHEN DOUBLE CROPPING

Comparison photos of plants grown using Locus AG Rhizolizer Prime for Soybean biological inoculant. Treated soybean plants show more feeder roots and nodules, which leads to enhanced nutrient uptake and higher yields.