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CHOOSE RIGHT MG FOR EARLY SOYBEAN PRODUCTION SYSTEM
When using the Early Soybean Production System, there is always the question of what maturity group ( MG) from which to select varieties. The following guide, based on long-term Stoneville, MS data, can be used as a tool for making this decision.
There are 9 MGs (0 through 8) of soybeans grown in the continental USA from northern Minnesota to central Florida. One degree of latitude equals about 69 statute or land miles. The latitude of central Florida is about 28 deg. N, and the latitude of northern Minnesota is about 48 deg. N. Thus, the South--North soybean production area in the USA covers about 20 degrees of latitude, or about 2.2 degrees latitude (approximately 150 land miles) per MG.
Summer weather patterns at most midsouthern locations are similar; that is, July and August are the hottest and driest months. Many years of research at Stoneville, MS have determined that MG IV varieties have the best combination of high irrigated yield (70+ bu/acre) and least time from planting to maturity (135 to 140 days) when planted in the early soybean production system (late March through late April) to avoid summer drought and heat stresses at that location. Using this as a guide, the following table gives proposed MGs from which to select varieties for planting at midsouthern locations both South and North of Stoneville. Latitude of other locations can be found at http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic .
This presentation assumes that the estimated last spring frost date for each location is sufficiently early to allow planting as early as late March. This generally is a safe assumption as far north as Memphis TN. For locations north of Memphis to Sikeston, MO, earliest planting should occur after about April 10 when using the average date of last spring frost as a guide.
The below interpolation is intended only as a guide for choosing the appropriate MG for early plantings at a given latitude. It can be used as one of several tools in making variety selections. Compilation of research results regarding days to maturity and yield from varieties of the different MGs at locations throughout the midsouth will give a more definitive guideline. Producers should seek this information from early-planted variety trials conducted in their areas.
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Latitude of selected locations in the midsouthern USA soybean region and proposed MG(s) from which to select varieties to plant in the ESPS.
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Location
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Latitude
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MG to plant
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Location
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Latitude
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MG to plant
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Vicksburg MS
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32 21 N
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IV-V
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Marianna AR
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34 46 N
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III-IV
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Shreveport LA
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32 30 N
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IV-V
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Memphis TN
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35 09 N
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III-IV
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Stoneville MS
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33 26 N
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IV
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Jackson TN
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35 37 N
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III
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Paris TX
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33 41 N
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IV
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Jonesboro AR
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35 50 N
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III
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Dumas AR
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33 52 N
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IV
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Union City TN
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36 25 N
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III
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Clarksdale MS
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34 12 N
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IV
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Sikeston MO
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36 52 N
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II-III
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(Delta Farm Press, V. 62, No. 48, Dec. 2, 2005)
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