To investigate the impact of planting distance and zinc foliar fertilization on soybean growth, a field experiment was conducted in the summer of 2022 at the Hamidiyah research station of the College of Agriculture at the University of Anbar. The experiment was set up in a Split Plot R.C.B.D with three replicates. Four concentrations of zinc (0, 25, 50 and 75 mg Zn l−1), allocated to the main plots, whereas the planting distances (7, 14, 21, and 28 cm) between plants were allocated to the sub-plots which gave plant densities of 190,000, 95555, 63333 and 47777 plants ha−1, respectively. The planting distances between plants significantly affected the vegetative growth characteristics, as the distance of 7 cm (high density) was outperformed in plant height (116.11 cm) and the height of the first pod from the soil surface (29.25 cm). While the distance of 28 cm (low density) recorded the highest average for number of branches (8.67 branch plant−1), leaf area (53.66 dm2 plant−1), chlorophyll content of leaves (5.29 mg g−1 fresh weight), and the dry weight of the plant (410 g plant−1). With regards to plant development, a 75 mg L−1 zinc solution was the most effective. Plant height (106.78 cm), number of branches (8.67 branch plant−1), leaf area (5836 dm2 plant−1), chlorophyll content (5.06 mg gm−1 fresh weight), first height Pod from the surface of the earth (30.46 cm), and dry weight were the best averages (455.8 g plant−1). The plant’s height and the height of the first pod above the surface of the soil interacted significantly with a concentration of 75 mg L−1 at a distance of 7 cm, while the highest mean for the plant’s number of branches, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and dry weight was found at a distance of 28 cm under the same conditions.