Evaluating Planting Dates for Maturity Group IV through VIII Soybeans in South Carolina.

The growth and yield of different soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] maturity groups (MG) can be influenced by planting date. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of seven planting dates on growth and yields of MG IV through VIII soybeans. The experiment was conducted at Clemson University, Edisto Research and Education Center,  near Blackville, SC. Soybeans (MG IV, V, VI, VII and VIII) were planted approximately every two weeks starting in second half of April and finishing in mid July. Soybeans were evaluated for leaf area index (LAI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), height, and grain yield, moisture, test weight, seed weight, and number of seeds bu^-1.