| Seeding Rate (seeds/ac) | Avg Yield (bu/ac) | Seed Cost ($/ac) | Gross Revenue ($/ac) | Net Return ($/ac) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94,000 | 74.5 | 42.97 | 759.90 | 716.93 |
| 101,000 | 75.7 | 46.17 | 772.48 | 726.31 |
| 120,000 | 78.1 | 54.86 | 796.28 | 741.42 |
| 165,000 | 78.7 | 75.43 | 802.74 | 727.31 |
A seeding rate trial was planted on April 16, 2025, with cooperating grower Jerry Newby in Bleckley County to evaluate the effect of soybean planting population on yield and profitability. The variety used was ASGROW AG48XF2. The plots were six rows wide on 38 inch twin row spacing, and four seeding rates were compared: 94,000 ; 101,000 ; 120,000 ; and 165,000 seeds per acre. Each treatment was replicated three times to provide reliable local data for grower decision making.
Stand Establishment
Plant stands were evaluated 15 days after planting (DAP) on May 1, 2025. Average stands ranged from 74,333 plants/acre at the 94K rate to 134,500 plants/acre at the 165K rate. Stand percentages reflected consistent emergence across treatments, ranging from 75 % to 88 %, despite some localized deer damage that reduced populations in a few plots. This demonstrated good overall establishment and planting accuracy across the seeding rate range.
Yield and Economic Results
Harvest data revealed that yield response to increasing seeding rate was minimal and statistically non-significant (p = 0.28). Average yields ranged from 74.5 bu/ac at 94K to 78.7 bu/ac at 165K.
When seed cost was included ($64 per 140,000-seed bag), economic analysis showed that the 120K rate achieved the highest net return, driven by a modest yield gain without excessive seed expense.
Interpretation
Although yields increased slightly with higher seeding rates, those differences were not statistically significant, and the additional seed cost reduced profitability at the top end. The 120K seeding rate offered the greatest economic return, while both 94K and 101K rates delivered competitive yields at lower input costs. These results indicate that seeding rates (around 100–120K) can maintain yield potential and maximize profitability under typical Bleckley County growing conditions.