Influence of Early Lodging on Yield of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]¹

The effect of early lodging on the yield of ‘Wayne’ soybeans ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) was studied in highly productive and lodging conducive environments at Ashland and Chenoa, Ill. A wire grid system was suspended horizontally over the treated plots to prevent lodging and permit development of undisturbed canopies. The check plots were permitted to lodge naturally. Two row spacings and three plant populations were used. Natural lodging occurred at early pod set (early August); and by mid‐pod fill (late August) lodging had reduced the canopy height by 46% at both locations (150 vs 81 cm at Ashland and 131 vs 71 cm at Chenoa). Seed yields in the lodged plots were reduced 21% at Ashland (47 vs 37 kg/are) and 23% at Chenoa (35 vs 27 kg/are). There were no significant interactions between treatment and spacing or population.