Impact of headland on soybean yield

Abstract

Field headlands typically yield less than the rest of the field due to factors including greater soil compaction, increased risk of weather damage, and tree shading, among others. Soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) yield monitor data from 2009 to 2024 were collected, checked for data quality, and then evaluated to determine yield difference between headland and non‐headland areas. In addition, data were analyzed to evaluate the impact of field length, perimeter trees, and rainfall on yield differences. Average headland yield per hectare was 14% lower than yield in non‐headland areas at both the field and farm level. Average non‐headland yield was higher than average headland yield in 87% of fields and mean headland impact on production across all fields was −4.2%. Smaller fields, lower yielding fields, and fields with a larger headland to non‐headland ratio were impacted most by lower yields in the headland areas. The larger the perimeter of the field, the smaller the impact of headland yields on overall field yield. However, length of field‐adjacent tree cover was strongly correlated with negative headland impact on production, especially in smaller fields. Average values for headland impact on production across the 15 years of data varied from −2.1% to −6.1%, with no correlation between rainfall totals and headland impact on production. We conclude that New York soybean growers may consider adjusted management of soybean planted in headland areas but should evaluate actual yield loss to direct efforts to fields with the greatest negative impact from lower yields in the headlands.