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David Moseley, LSU AgCenter Soybean Specialist
The 2024 Soybean Variety Yields & Production Practices publication recommends planting approximately 130,000 soybean seeds per acre (adjusting for row spacing and planting date). The desired final stand is around 104,000 plants per acre. However, research suggests 95% of full yield potential can be achieved with final stands of 70,000-75,000 plants per acre, especially with even distribution. This information is supported by a national publication ("Soybean Plant Stands: Is Replanting Necessary?") from Science for Success (a national group of soybean specialists and agronomists) and LSU AgCenter research.
Data from a 2020 Dean Lee Research Station population trial showed no significant yield difference with final stands of 61,000 and 67,500 plants per acre for May and June plantings, respectively.
The Science for Success factsheet suggests repair planting might be a more economical option than a complete replant. Repair planting involves adding seeds in areas with low plant populations to achieve a final stand of at least 70,000-75,000 plants per acre.
The timing of repair planting requires balancing several factors:
To estimate the final stand, count the number of plants within a specific row length based on your row spacing (Table 1).
Table 1: Row Length for Plant Count by Row Spacing
| Row Spacing (in) | Length to count |
| 7.5 | 69' 8" |
| 10 | 52' 3" |
| 15 | 34' 10" |
| 20 | 26' 1" |
| 30 | 17' 5" |
| 36 | 14' 6" |
| 38 | 13' 9" |
| 40 | 13' 1" |
While soybeans are generally sensitive to flooding and saturated soil conditions, some varieties offer better tolerance. The LSU AgCenter collaborates with the Universities of Missouri and Arkansas to screen varieties for flood tolerance. Data from the 2023 LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station flood screening trials can be found in the 2024 Soybean Variety Yields & Production Practices. Similar trials are planned for 2024 at the LSU AgCenter Red River and Northeast Research Stations.
