Uneven soybean emergence caused by crusted soil, a form of compaction. Stopping to think about all that needs to happen, seemingly on ‘autopilot’ between when soybean seed is planted and when seedlings emerge is awe-inspiring. Water and temperature. The soybean growing season begins in earnest when seed is sown. Seeds passively imbibe or absorb approximately 50% of their dry weight in water from the soil. Like other organisms that cannot regulate their own temperatures, the enzymes that catalyze the chemical reactions that need to take place in order for seeds to germinate are driven by the temperature of the surrounding environment – soil. Although soybean’s ideal soil temperature is ~70 degrees, in order to reduce the chance of seed or seedlings succumbing to disease losses by sitting idlily, it is recommended that minimum soil temperatures shouldn’t fall below 50 degrees. Radical radicles. The first plant part to break through the seed coat is the rad...
