Analysis of a Novel Bedded Planting System for Dry Clay Soil Management of Full‐Season and Double‐Crop Soybean

Abstract

Clay soils are difficult to manage to obtain a soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] stand, especially when dry. A novel production system, recently observed on several farms in Arkansas, consists of bedding the dry clayey soil with disk‐bedders, broadcasting the soybean seed over the surface, re‐bedding the seedbed to cover the seed, rolling the beds to flatten the tops and finally furrow irrigating immediately thereafter. Typically this planting system provides a stand of soybean within 4 to 6 days after irrigation and is designated as “hipped” after the common reference of a disk‐bedder as a hipper. Studies were conducted on Sharkey soil at Keiser, AR from 1998 to 2000 for comparing this “hipped” system to more widely used planting methods. On dry clayey soils, a randomized complete block design with three replications was used to compare full‐season soybean under a conventional 96‐cm row system, drilled‐planting into a stale seedbed, and the “hipped” system. A similar study for double‐cropped wheat‐soybean involved straw management (burn or leave) coupled with no‐till drill, tilled drill, and “hipped” systems. Other small studies on the “hipped” system were conducted to investigate the sensitivity to planting depth, soybean plant population, and suitability for obtaining a stand on other crops such as cotton [Gossypium hirsutum (L.)] and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The “hipped” system worked well for obtaining stands of soybean, cotton, and grain sorghum. In essence the “hipped” system 1) provides insurance against poor planting conditions; 2) allows for a reduction in the uncertainty of planting and stand establishment time required; 3) can be used to achieve high plant populations; 4) requires a relatively higher seeding rate in double‐crop than full‐season systems; 5) shows promise for situations when wheat stubble burning becomes curtailed especially if planting can occur early to lead to improved canopy coverage and 6) leads to yield reductions in fields where depth of seed placement cannot be controlled easily.