CROP, FORAGE & TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 1 OF 10 RESEARCH Soybean Seed Quality: An Empirical Analysis on Clayey Soils in Arkansas M. Popp,* J. Rupe, C. Rothrock, J. Ross, B. Dixon, A. Steger, and J. Lutes Abstract Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed quality is an important factor for seeding rate recommendations. Which seed quality measure to use for seeding rate recommendations and how seed treatment and planting date affect returns are assessed within. Results suggest that adding seed vigor information to seed labels would be beneficial in providing seeding rate recommendations. Seed treatment is profitable and more so at lower seeding rates. Seed survival impacts yields, but seed quality effects do not affect yield potential post– plant establishment. Planting season is an important determinant of seed survival and yield potential. JUSTIFICATION W ITH SEED COST taking on an ever larger share of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cash operating charges, seed quality (SQ) and seed treatment (ST) effects on seeding rate are important information for producers. is analysis uses two SQ measures to determine how they impact seed survival. e results suggest that both pieces of information are useful. Given the same seeding rate, germination affects seed survival more than vigor, ST is profitable, and yield potential is primar- ily affected by seed survival and planting season. WHY LOOK AT SEED QUALITY Including technology fees, seed cost is a large expense item in soybean production as illustrated by current soybean produc- tion budgets (Flanders et al., 2014). Hence, many producers may save costs by minimizing the seeding rate necessary to establish sufficient plant populations to obtain profit-maximizing yield (Chen and Wiatrak, 2011; Lee et al., 2008; Norsworthy and Oliver, 2001; Poag et al., 2005; Popp et al., 2010). To assist in this decision, producers obtain information from germination tests. Tekrony et al. (1993) proposed that seed vigor information would also benefit producers. Proper seed handling and stor- age to maintain SQ (Mbofung et al., 2013) is expected to affect Published in Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management DOI: 10.2134/cftm2014.0069 © 2015 American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher. M. Popp, Professor, Dep. of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, 217 Agriculture Building, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; J. Rupe and C. Rothrock, Professors, Dep. of Plant Pathology, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; J. Ross, Associate Professor, Dep. of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; working for University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service as an Agronomist specializing in soybean; B. Dixon, Professor, Dep. of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; A. Steger, Research Associate, Dep. of Plant Pathology, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; J. Lutes, Graduate Research Assistant, Dep. of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Received 31 July 2014. Accepted 20 Feb. 2015. *Corresponding author (mpopp@uark.edu). Abbreviations: PPD, plant population density; SQ, seed quality; ST, seed treatment. Published July 17, 2015