The author has conducted three years of soybean seeding rate studies testing up to six different seeding rates in both 15-inch and 30-inch rows.  The objectives of these studies include determining if there is a yield difference between 15 and 30-inch rows in studies where both row widths are compared and if so, which width produces the best yield and at what seeding rate.  If only one row width is compared, the objective is to determine the seeding rate that produces the best yield.  Each study has been conducted using randomized strips that have been replicated at least three times across this field scale on-farm research.

In addition to seeding rates, the author has taken stand counts as well as soil tests.  Although seeding rates were treatments studied, factors that remained the same include seed variety, fertilizer, tillage, and weed control.  Economic factors were also studied in both 2017 and 2018 with this on-farm research that has also been featured in The Ohio State University eFields book.  These studies were conducted in muck soil, where organic levels were higher than mineral soils.  As a result, yields were not as high as soybeans grew well vegetatively, however did not yield as well as other studies.  In addition, the researcher tested soil health and soybean cyst nematodes in this study. 

Results of the 30-inch row study in 2016 indicated that the highest yielding soybeans were seeded at 162,000 seeds per acre while the 15-inch row study from the same year produced the highest yield at 213,000 seeds per acre.  Results of the 15-inch row studies in 2017 indicated that the highest yielding soybeans were seeded at a rate of 210,000 seeds per acre while best economic seeding rate was 210,000 seeds per acre which returned the most profit per acre.  Results of the 15-inch row studies in 2018 indicated that the highest yielding soybeans were seeded at a rate of 180,000 seeds per acre while best economic seeding rate was 120,000 seeds per acre which returned the most profit per acre.