Assessing Flood Damage in Soybean Fields

June 25, 2013 02:32 AM
soybeans flooded out

How long will your flooded soybeans survive? Keep an eye on the sky and the thermometer.

Courtesy of University of Wisconsin Extension

Severe flooding has many low-lying soybean fields underwater. As the water dissipates yield potential and replant questions will arise. Flooding can be divided into either water-logging, where only the roots are flooded, or complete submergence where the entire plants are under water.

Water-logging is more common than complete submergence and is also less damaging. Soybeans can generally survive for 48 to 96 hours when completely submersed. The actual time frame depends on air temperature, humidity, cloud cover, soil moisture conditions prior to flooding, and rate of soil drainage.


Crop injury from water-logging is difficult to assess. Water-logging can reduce soybean yield 17 to 43% at the vegetative growth stage and 50 to 56% at the reproductive stage. Yield losses are the result of reduced root growth, shoot growth, nodulation, nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, biomass accumulation, stomatal conductance, and plant death due to diseases and physiological stress. A significant amount of genetic variability for flooding tolerance among soybean varieties occurs in maturity groups II and III and likely exists for maturity group I soybeans as well.

Increased disease incidence in the surviving plants may also occur and limit yield potential. The main culprit will likely be phythophthora given the warm wet weather; however phythium, rhizoctonia, or fusarium may also occur. Differential response among varieties will be tied to the sources of genetic resistance to these diseases.

Once we can get back into the fields the decision to replant will be based on the yield potential of the current stand relative to the cost and yield potential of the replanted soybean field (Table 1). Before any decision to tear up a field is made make sure you contact your crop insurance agent to discuss coverage and you have the replant seed on your farm or at least en route. As we all know seed supplies are tight and replant acres will be high. Also remember to check herbicide labels for plant back restrictions if you are planning to plant soybean into a flooded corn field.

soybean replant chart

Since full season maturity group soybeans are unrealistic for planting this late only early and mid-group soybean cultivars should be considered. The average yield potential for soybean planted in late June in southern Wisconsin is in the 30 to 35 bu. yield range (Figure 1). For yield potential and harvestability, (a combine may not be able to pick up the lower pods) a grower should plant if possible a mid-maturity group soybean instead of an early maturity group for their geographic area.

soybean maturity group graph

To maximize yield potential in late planted soybean, a minimum of 180,000 plants per acre is required in a drilled system as yield potential in rowed beans would be significantly reduced due to decreased canopy development. To achieve 180,000 plants per acre a grower may have to seed as many as 225,000 seeds per acre.

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