If you were to look at a corn and soybean field side by side, there wouldn’t be any doubt which one had more residue. Every 40 bushels of corn results in approximately one ton of residue produced. By comparison, every 30 bushels of soybeans produced results in one ton of residue. When you factor in potential yields of those two crops, simple math tells us what we see visually: corn produces more residue than soybeans.
That doesn’t mean that soybean residue is unimportant. A look at residue removal (if completely removed by baling, etc…) from University of Nebraska Extension publication G1846 – Harvesting Crop Residues – shows that soybeans remove the same amount of nitrogen (17 lb/ton) as corn does. That residue also houses three pounds per ton of phosphorous and 13 pounds per ton of potassium. That means that the residue left behind from a 50-bushel bean crop is holding almost 30 pounds of N, five pounds of P and just over 20 pounds of K.
The nutrient value isn’t the only benefit. UNL research suggests that at least two tons per acre of residue should be left on the field if you are trying to maintain soil organic matter. If you are trying to prevent soil erosion, levels above two tons per acre are suggested. Prevention of evaporative soil losses from residue presence are a bonus as well.
Soybean residue is important. We may not see much out there at first glance, but it’s value is likely more than we think.
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Holton man receives Hard 25 sentence for child sex crime
Horton man arrested following weekend shooting
Hiawatha man facing sex, drug charges waives prelim hearing
Horton woman arrested on drug charges
Train strikes walking man in Jackson Co; victim survives
Two arrested Thursday in Jackson Co on meth-related charges
Power outage leads to early school dismissal
Hiawatha airport project approved
Inmate dies at Lansing Correctional Facility
Vacancy filled on USD 115 board
MO grass fire battled Thursday
Community Healthcare System hires new CEO
Mound City Mayor Duane Nauman remembered
Falls City School Board approves personnel moves and purchases
Valley Falls' future set for Wednesday eve discussion
PBPN breaks ground for new business
Sheriff issues safety reminder
USD 415 board approves bids for new HS stadium lights
Brown Co Planning Commission established
Johnson-Brock School not able to accept all option-in requests
LATEST STORIES
New Atchison garden sees growth
Lancaster, County, plan weekend clean up
Effingham awarded water-related grant
Brown Co Planning Commission established
Atchison firefighter receives VFW honors
Highway 73 near Verdon NE reopened
Mound City Mayor Duane Nauman remembered