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I‘1 - Idol. ‘1 In 11‘1sqwu‘ II 3.x: “ISO-63 LI ”I‘l:~:3V:‘ ‘ I? 1:1 "N " \‘I $095 I.I "avl.§: I {54:01}? a ‘1 N .3715:th } u FACTORS INFLUENCING THE YIELD AND QUALITY (F SOYBEAN HAY FACTORS INFLUENCING THE YIELD AND QUALITY CF SOYB‘EAN HAY THESIS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFIIJMENT CF THE REQUIRBJENT F02 THE DEGREE CF MASTER OF SCIENCE AT MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE G" AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIENCE ! Ernest. LEJMcPherron Farm Crops ngaflment 4936 H31 rHFQIS TABLE OF COHTEHTS I Introduction . . . . . . . . . . II Envie' of Literature . . . . . . III EXperimental Procedure . . . . . IV’ Experimental Results . . . . . . A. V Summary A. B. VI Conclusions VII Literature Field Observations 1. Time of Cutting 2. Comparison of Early, 3. Rate of Planting 4. Depth of Planting . Chemical Composition 1. Time of Cutting . . 2. Comparison of Early, 3. Rate of Planting Hay Yield. 0 o o o 0 Chemical Analysis . . Cited 0 o o o o o o 0 12.1483 MBdium Medium Late Varieties. Late Varieties. O I O O O O O 12 18 23 28 32 33 33 35 38 INTRODUCTION Soybeans, because of their high yield and feeding value, are considered an important emergency hay cr0p in the lower peninsula onMichigan. Addition- al recent interest has deveIOped in the culture of this crap because of ad- vances in the industrial uses of the soybean in plastics, oils, glues, etc. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the acreage of soybeans in Michigan has increased during the past ten years from 7,000 acres in 1927 to 44,000 acres in 1937. In march, the indicated acreage of soybeans in Michigan for 1938 was 42,000 acres. It has been estimated that about two-thirds of the total soybean acreage is cut for hay and one-third cut for grain. It is the object of this problem to study the influence of leafiness, color, size of stem, percent of protein and proportion of leaves, pods and stems in the total crap upon the yield and quality of soybean hay, under Michigan conditions. Field studies were made of varieties, stage of mat- urity at harvest time, rate of planting and depth of planting. REVIEW OF LITERATURE There are several publications dealing with the production and util- ization of soybeans. Literature dealing with soybean hay many times in- cludes work in combination with feeding trials. The best time for cut- ting is largely influenced by the purpose for which the crap is intended. -2- Liaximum yields of dry matter are reported, by Stemple (13), Thatcher (15), Willard (17) and others, to occur when the hay was harvested after the pods were well filled and the lower leaves were beginning to yellow but had not fallen. The maximum yield of green material may occur before the highest yield of dry matter is produced. In some years it was observed that the highest air dry yields were obtained when the seeds started to ripen. Uhland (16) reports an average of four years work with the variety Vir- ginia in which he obtained maximum hay yields vinen the pods were well formed and about one-third to one-half filled. At this stage of plant growth, there was a minimum of woody stems and a maximum of protein in the hay as leaves. He also, found that this time of xraxirmm yield was best for the most uniform distribution of protein through the hay ard for the greatest protein yield. Thatcher's (15) work showed a steady decrease of leaves and an increase of woody stems as maturity was approached. Willard (17) reported that hay was 60 percent leaves when beans were well formed and 50 percent leaves when beans appeared half grown. His data further showed that weight of stems remained fairly constant after beans were well formed but the percent of stems increased rapidly as one-half or more of the leaves fell. The weight of beans increased sharply with a decrease in leaves giving about 40 percent of the mature crop as seed. Averaging three years' results, Hilton, Wilber and Epple (5) found that soybean hay cut when the pods were completely formed, the beans practically fully developed in the pods, and the lower leaves turning yellow, was sup- erior for both milk arri butterfat production to hays cut in an earlier stage of maturity. Several workers have studied the influence of rate of seeding upon -3- quality and yield of soybean hay. Nevens (10) found that the yield of hay increased with the increase in rate of seeding per acre. Thickly planted soybeans were found to give less coarse stems and smaller amounts of hay were refused by cattle than when the soybeans were not planted so thickly. Stemple (13) found very little difference between hay yields from either row or solid plantings. The stems were coarser when the beans were planted in rows but less seed Was used and cultivation to control weeds could be practiced. Four peeks per acre in solid plantings were considered to be most economical When planted as early as possible but thicker rates gave finer stems. Borst and Thatcher (1) working in Ohio found that rate of planting influenced the growth habit of the plant and a higher yield was secured from the thick rate of planting. The rate of planting apparently did not influence the prOportion of stems and leaves or the nitrogen and fiber contents of the plants. They also found in the time of seeding test that planting from April 20 to June 1 did not seriously affect the forage yields of manchu. Nelson and MbCelland (9) report a lack of marked variation in results secured from rates of planting of 7 to 63 pounds per acre in 5-foot rows. There was a slight indication of higher germination and larger seed being produced in the thinner rates of planting. Little has been written dealing with depth of planting soybeans. Stitt (14) reports that satisfactory stands were secured from plantings as deep as four inches in fine sandy loam and two inches in clay soil, although reduced stands were obtained from seedings deeper than two inches in loam and one inch in clay; germination was prolonged with increased depth of planting. The chemical composition of whole soybean plants as well as for separate plant parts has been studied by many workers. Erdman (2) concludes that seed varieties are richer in protein than hay varieties and that in the early -4- stages of growth of all varieties there is a gradual decrease in the per— centage of nitrogen in soybean teps but that during September the percent- age of nitrOgen begins to increase and usually reaches a maximum at maturity. Borst and Thatcher (I) report a high percentage of nitrogen in the leaves. This percentage decreased to about half the initial percentage when plants became mature. They also found from analyses that the leaves of soybean hay are rich in calcium and, in the stage of deveIOpment prior to seed formation, in potassium. In analyzing samples of soybean hay, Thatcher and Park:(l5) found a decrease in the percentage of protein in the stems and thrashed pods as the seeds developed. Also, stems of soybean hay, harvested when the seed is well develOped, may contain only four to five percent of crude protein and are relatively high in crude fiber. Together with other analyses Mbrrison (7) lists oat straw as containing 4 percent crude protein, 36 percent crude fiber and 44 percent total digest- ible nutrients, while soybean straw contains 4 percent crude protein, 41 percent crude fiber and 36.5 percent total digestible nutrients. At the Illinois Agriculture Experiment Station, the soybean stems left in mangers during a dairy cattle feeding eXperiment were found to contain 3 to 5 per- cent crude protein and 50 percent fiber. Hayden (4), Hilton, Wilber and Epple (5), Mbrrison (7) and others re- port 3 percent to 20 percent of hay as coarse stems refused by livestock, but that was largely influenced by the quality of the hay and the method of feeding. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The field trials were located on an area of Hillsdale sandy loam and Hillsdale loam, to which super phosphate was applied at the rate of 750 pounds per acre and.worked into the seed bed. -5- The soybeans were drilled on June 2, 1937. All plots were 300 feet long and 3 rows wide with 28 inches between rows. The planting order of the plots is shown in Figure 1. These plots were cross cultivated with a rotary hoe upon emergence of the beans and cultivated three times during the season at intervals of ten days, the weeds being pulled from.the row following the second cultivation. Duplicate rod-row samples were taken.for forage yields at various intervals from July 26 to the end of the season, one from section A and one from Section B, (Figure 1). Samples were weighed in the field, after which, they were taken to the laboratory and separated into component parts of stems, leaves and pods. These parts were air-dried at 850 and dry weights recorded. The sum of the dry weights of the component parts was used to calculate the air-dry yields of all plots after raising them to a common basis of 14% moisture. This crap was grown under more rainfall with a little more cloudiness than is average for this section of the state, as may be seen by the weather data given in Table 1. Table 1. Normal and l93?_precipitation at East Lansing, Michigan. Jan. to Jan. to Sunshine Mbnth. Apr. Inc. may June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Inc. % of possible 1937 pre- oipitation 10047 3s43 5077 1.54 4042 1028 28.11 49 Normal pre- cipitation. 8.65 3.42 3.51 3.10 2.82 2.91 24.41 55 In the date of harvest test of manchu.(check) the samples were first taken when the plants were in blossom and every week thereafter during the growing season regardless of the stage of plant growth. The dates of har- vest and plant conditions are given in Table 2, and the degree of bean 550 m guano cued moo *ma whom mmm‘%Om Macao chow mmm wwm cued non hem moose one“ hem mam n.|olll.p me 5.23m fin , noose space asmmmm new comm ac» noose -6— ammaao mm» noose senneufl> «on scales m nonpoem 4 soapoom canon ..u on sma\w oHaon op stung .mpoam abut» unsophom mqfivnmam mo scuuo H .wflm -7- develOpment is shown in Plate 1. Table 2. Showing stage of growth of plants at different dates of harvesting Date of Harvest August 14 August 20 August 27 September 3 Plant Nbdority of Plants were Blossoms all Pods completely Condition plants in from blossom. fallen and formed and blossom and to pods one- pods formed contained few pods half inch in up to two small beans. beginning to length. inches in form. length. Date of September 10 September 17 September 24 October 1 Harvest Plant Pods were Beans well About one— Most leaves Condition considered formed, third to one- had fallen to be about lower leaves half of the but pods were one-half started to leaves still green. filled. Yellow. yellowed and falling. Some {mat damage. ”I In the comparison of early (Cayuga), medium (manchu) and late (Virginia) varieties of soybeans for hay, samples were taken of all three types when any one of the types was in blossom, had beans one-third to one-half formed, had lower one-third of leaves yellowed and falling, and.was fully ripe. are given in Table 3. The dates Table 3. Showing the stages of growth for the various dates of harvesting the f . 119';th .. 7.!.n.1\.n0.lll. Isl|e I901: in.-- O ~?n. . Q _. I e h. II I I .l I. r: a! r ”-...I ll ' 10.0]! f o I A . _ _ n . . . . _ . A a H H u . 4 . . _ V . . y o - . n u . _ . A . . _ . n a _ i A _ _ . . — . f _ . i _ _ . . a . K .. _ . 1.1.1: lvl |.¢ I!» I 10f .v . lllv llnnlll III I l t .l I ll .4 t #71 .- 9 ‘OnT '0 A + 1 I 4 w a A: 4 I. t a I ' v u! +.l’ o nil. A . . . . .. . . . s m .-_ _. s . .4 _._...--. . I x A w ... a a a. 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W _ m a H ~ m . . _ m .a h m . _ m . . .i. a m M : u .i _ ........ n... . m . . i M . a H . n u n. . . .0* _ L . I'll-I‘vvirx»... .‘QEI’5‘t‘ir . . . _ Lift... 5...... . Li! L. .D ‘._.._...... ._. .3. ... .Pnly. -18- a steady decrease at about the blossom stage which is counterbalanced by an equally steady increase in the percentage of pods. Regardless of the stage of maturity, the percentage of stems does not change as markedly as do the percentages of pods and leaves. It is quite evident that the dr0p in per- centage of leaves is due and is in direct prOportion to the increase in percentage of pods. This is especially noticeable in the case of the early variety which matured during the growing season. The leaf percentage fell from.70% to 0% while the pods increased from 05 to 75% over the correspond- ing period of growth. Rate of planting Thick plantings gave finer stems with higher yields but there are limitations to which the rate of planting may be increased economically. Decreasing the rate of planting causes the stems to become increasingly woody and more undesirable from a feeding standpoint. In Table 7 and Figures 5 and 6 are given the results from Manchu soybeans sown at five different rates and harvested at three different stages of maturity. Plate 2 gives a view of this portion of the field. 0f the three conditions at harvesting, the highest yields from all .rates of planting were obtained when the pods on the plants were half filled. However, a slightly later date of harvest would have given a higher yield of dry matter as may'be seen when the data on time of cutting are compared with 'the data from the rate of planting series. In the final harvest, as maturity was approached, the lowest yield was from the thin (15 pound) rate of planting but the largest prOportion of this cnrtting was in the form of leaves. The results in Table 7 show that the high- er yields of stems were from the high rates of planting. These rates gave a high percentage of the total crop in the form of stems, while the low yield -19- Table 7. Yield of hay from cuttings of different stages of maturity of five rates of plantings and the yield of the component parts; all containing 14 percent moisture (Manchu variety). Harvested Rate Total Leaves Pods Stems Yield lbs. Tons Tons % of Tons % of Tons % of per per per total per total per total acre acre acre yield acre yield acre yield August 5‘ 30# 0.38 0.26 67 0.00 00 0.13 33 blossoming 45# 0.39 0.26 66 0.00 00 0.14 34 60# 0.56 0.39 70 0.00 00 0.17 30 90# 0.65 0.40 61 0.00 00 0.25 39 September 7 15# 2.11 1.02 48 0.43 25 0.57 27 pods half 30% 2.13 1.00 47 0.50 23 0.64 30 filled 4 r 2.34 1.14 49 0.55 24 0.65 27 60#- 2.15 1.05 49 0.46 21 0.64 30 90# 2.64 1.27 48 0.54 21 0.83 31 September 22 15# 1.37 0.50 37 0.59 43 0.28 20 1/3 to 1/2 307% 1.87 0.56 so 0.80 43 0.50 27 leaves 45# 2.08 0.51 25 0.87 42 0.70 34 yellowed and 60#: 2.08 0.65 31 0.84 40 0.59' 29 fallen 90# 1.99 0.53 27 0.84 42 0.62 31 t No sample taken at this stage of maturity for 15# rate. from.the lS-pound rate was made up of coarser stems. The 90-pound seeding rate gave the highest total yield wmen the pods were half filled. The higher yields of leaves and stems were from.the 90- pound seeding, but the percentage of stems and leaves was not markedly ctanged from those of the lighter rates. The yield of pods was very much the same fbr'all.rates of planting, at this date of harvest, but the per- centage of pods was compared to total dry matter became lower with the in- creased rate of planting. Mich finer stems were produced with the 90-pound rate than with the lS-pound rate while the 30-pound, 45-pound and 60-pound rates were not out- standingly different from each other. The increased rates of planting gave proportionately finer stems when compared with the thin planting of w." a... b 0' y .x ',Hl I'llltlu).vl ill! . . in... 1 ha ‘ ‘I. .. u: . .1 .. gui- ‘Fvvurl ;.mmn seamen ;w: 1 lemma: 1: aaa_mapoa .weooseona‘ . LEI?! VJ '\ .. 'uik I ..22- Plate 2. July 19. Manchu plants. (7-weeks old). 30-pound rate (check) in the immediate foregrouni with 15-pound rate and increasing rates to the right. -23 15 pounds per acre. Individual plants, or plants borderirg vacancies in the row, produced larger stems and formed spreading branches nearer the ground than did those plants growing in close competition with each other. A rate of planting which gives an even stani without blank Spaces in the row is most desirable. For the medium-sized soybean seed this would probably be at least 30 pounds per acre. Rates for smaller seed might be lower while for the larger seeded varieties the rate should be increased accordingly. There is not an exact rate of planting for all conditions as the size of seed will vary but excessive amounts of seed are not warranted by the increased yield secured over the yields which my be obtained from an even stand over the field. Depth of planting Since the soybean must push the cotyledons up through the soil, it is possible to plant the seed too deep. If planted too shallow, a lack of moisture may cause a very poor stand. As may be seen in Figures 7 and 8 or Table 8 there appears to be no consistent variation in the yields from tie depths of planting when any one date of harvest is considered. The shallow planting is shown in plate 3. When out at the blossoming 3 tags, the harvest of the shallow planting gave the lowest yield which was mostly due to less leaves. This gave a higher percentage of stem than was received from the other depths. In the inter- mediate harvest, the highest yield was from the shallow planting, although the percentage composition of the shallow and medium depth plantings were similar. The yield from the deep planting sh owed the same amount of leaves, but there were more pods erri less stems than were harvested from the other depths of planting. The highest yield in the late cutting was from the "“122de :2 E Tb . MCQMZM D~MfiNQM2 OD. 20.hw+m ) i 'v..lr\i‘ i it". .. .19.. #2 pt“ -lL-..ler 11!: IP. 1.]... I . .. ,1. intuit»- , j.fl..l:I-Ih.. f ; ZI‘L .I an“... Fulfil“. .. . M m . . . . I.‘Il| ,l. A u “ .v.\l . . l. .11... 1.1. 11 1 uv Ilv . 1| _ . . _ n m u . _ . a a . . . . . . . . . . H . , _ . ,V . . v? :...T:. r .b .‘2n_;_\7_.2 h: 2.. .3 > -25- medium depth of planting but the yield was composed of less leaves and more pods and stem when compared with sml low and deep planting. The harvests from deep plantings at the intermediate and late stages gave fewer stems in both cases for their respective harvests than did the other depths of plant- ing. Table 8. field of hay from cuttings at different stages of maturity from three depths of planting and the yields of the component plant parts; all containirg_l4 percent moisture. (Manchu variety). Harvested Depth Total Leaves Pods Stems Yield Tons Tons % of Tons 73 of Tons 75 of per per tot a1 per tota l per total acre acre yield acre yield acre yield August 5 Shallow 0.35 0.22 62 0.00 00 0.13 38 blossoming Medium 0.42 0.29 70 0.00 00 0.13 30 Deep 0.45 0.30 68 0.00 00 0014 32 September 5 Shallow 2.22 1.05 47 0.51 23 0.66 30 podded Medium 1.95 0.94 48 0.46 23 0.56 29 half filled Deep 2.06 0.96 47 0.60 27 0.54 26 September24 Shallow 1.98 0.52 26 0.82 41 0.64 33 one-half Medium 2.19 0.46 21 1.06 48 0.67 31 yellowed DeQ 1.68 0.47 27 0.74 44 0.48 29 Deep planting did not seriously effect the germination of the seed. The deep planted plots might be considered a day later in emerging tlan either the medium or shallow planting in the conditions of this test. There was plenty of moisture at the time of planting and immediately after which gave the shallow planting every opportunity to germinate. The sandy type of soil with a moist surface did not hinder the beans in coming up, so that urxier the prevailing conditions the depth of planting had no direct influence. Deep planting in heavy soils of heavy texture should be avoided because the seed may rot before emergence. Shallow planting in light soils should not be practiced where moisture is a limiting factor. The best depth within limits is to put the seed in moist soil of a firm seed bed. Excessive depths to enable one to place the seed in moist soil is not advised but this depends somewhat on the soil texture. II F‘ufl! (,1 pfl 4%. Plate 3. July 19. Manchu Plants. (7 weeks old). Shallow depth plot in middle, 90-pound rate to the right and check plot to the left. -28- C H") MI CAL 0 03.908 I TI 01! Tine of Cutting Whole plants were ground and samples analyzed for crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract and ash. The different stages of harvest and the an- alyses are given in Table 9. Tlese analyses indicate a lowering of the protein percentage from the blossom stage to the time when the pods were about half filled after which time there was an increase as thebeans became more mature and made up a larger percentage of the plant yield. There was Table 9. Chemical analysis of samples from time of cutting test. Date of Protein Ash Ether Crude harvest Extract Fiber % % % 3% August 14 12.881!K 8.74 1.78 31.69 pods showing . pods formed August 27 POdB W311 formed 14.41 8075 1.89 29036 September 3 12.21 7.88 3.09 28.55 beans forming 53131591!be 10 11050 7.54 4028 25.82 pods half filled September 17 13.40 7.07 5.39 25.52 lower leaves yellow September 24 14.19 6.70 6.81 27.33 half leaves fallen October 1 14.78 6.04 8.04 27.81 most all leaves fallen I'IThis percentage appears too low in comparison with other amlyses for plants of the same age. This sample was moldy. a rather steady decrease in percentage of ash as maturity was approached. Contrasting this is a rather decided increase in the ether extract ace ompany- ing the increase in seed formation, particularly at the end of the growing season for the Manchu variety. .ll .1»! -29- The harvest on September 17 when the pods were about half filled gave the highest yield of protein per acre and the highest yield of leaves al— though the mrcent of protein in the crop was higher when the plants were in a more mature condition. The date of maximum protein‘yield also shoved a minimum of about 25 percent crude fiber in the crop when compared with other dates of harvest. The analyses of the checks out at three different stages of maturity showed about the same trends as the analyses from the time of cutting tests. The averages of the checks shown in Table 10 gave the highest percentage of protein, ash arrl c mde fiber when the plants were in blossom stage. The Table 10. Chemical composition of the checks from the test. Date of Check Protein Ash Ether Crude harvest Number Extract Fiber % % “/3 % August 5 Average 18.76 12.42 1.57 30.47 blossoming September 7 Average 10.38 7.05 2.72 28.50 pods half filled September 22 Average 11.84. 6086 6.37 29029 leaves mostly fallen protein percentage dropped during the season but increased slightly at the end of the season when the crop was mature. The percentage of ash became lower with the maturity of the crop, while the ether extract percentage in- creased throughout the season. The crude fiber of the plant became lower during the seasons growth but increased again at the end of the season al- though not to the maximum which it reached during the early stages of growth. Early, Medium and Late Varieties Table 11 shows the chemical composition of early, medium and late varieties when harvested at different dates. These analyses for each .1 «I. 64km. . .5LHI r‘ -30- Table 11. Comparison of Chemical Composition of Early, Ebdium.and late Varieties. Variety Date of Protein Ash Ether Crude Harvest Extract Fiber % % 7. % Cayuga JUly 26 20.22 10.58 0.84 27.54 Early Variety blossoming July 31 18.32 10.05 2.41 28.02 pods talf filled August 20 15.57 8.18 4.14 28.31 August 27 10.71 7.34 6.53 26.68 half leaves yellowed September 10 17.47 7.05 8.30 23.38 September 16 16.82 6.34 8.87 26.78 ripe September 22 12.22 6.72 5.64 31.49 Nanchu July 26 21.57 10.98 1.40 29.26 Medium.Variety Ju1y 31 18.13 10.23 1.61 28.84 blossoming no pods August 14 16.35 9.89 1.61 31.60 August 20 13.04 7.59 1.71 31028 September 10 13.58 8.40 4.36 22.13 pods half filled September 16 11.25 7.02 3.76 27.40 Virginia July 26 20.71 11.39 1.68 29.70 Iate‘variety August 14 13076 9.23 1.67 32.63 blossoming August 27 15.32 8.45 3.14 32.05 September 10 10.38 6.86 3.49 29.96 September 22 11.42 5.84 2.94 29.33 1/3 - 1/2 podded -31- variety show the trends in the percentage composition of protein,eish, ether extract andczrude fiber. The early variety Cayuga was the only variety which reached a completely ripe stage during the growing season. The Cayuga blossomed at a much younger age and had a higher protein content at the blossoming stage than either the medium or late season varieties. The late maturing variety was older when it blossomed and showed the lowest protein contant of the three varieties at this one stage of maturity. The percent of protein fell with an increase in the age of the plant until the beans were well formed, then a slight raise followed with an in- crease in matured beans. The maximum.yie1d of protein for the Cayuga was secured from the ripe plants after the seed had matured. At this stage of growth, there were practically no leaves on the plants. When the ripe plants were allowed to stand in the field, some shattering occurred and a decrease in protein was evident. The percentage of ash for the Cayuga dropped steadily with an in- crease in the age of the plants and the percentage of ether extract increased with age, although, the percentage of ether extract dropped when the plants were allowed to stand in the field after ripening. The percentage of crude fiber did not fluctuate markedly but did reach a lOW‘Of 23 percent when most of the leaves had fallen.and pods were nearly ripe as compared with a high of 31 percent after the ripe plants were allowed to stand f'r two weeks. The medium.and late varieties showed these same trends for the various analyses. The protein content was high in the younger plants and decreased wdth maturity as shown in Table 11. The late variety Virginia does not mature at this station so the chemical analysis of the matured plants can- not be given. The analysis of the Manchu variety in a nearly mature con- dition is shown in Table 5. The last harvest of Manchu on October 1 shoved an increased percentage of protein over flue preceeding analyses. The de- creasing ash percentage and increasing ether extract percentage was evident for both nediunxand late varieties. The Hedium variety gave its nmximum yield of protein when the pods were half filled and at this same stage the lowest percentage of crude fiha'. The late variety gave its maximum yield of protein at the blossom stage and about three weeks before the medium or early varieties reached.their maximum.protein yields. Thiszcelation ndght be changed if all the varieties grew to maturity but;that was not possible under the existing conditions. All varieties had emout the same percentage protein and percentage ash when taken at the same age. It should be remembered that the varieties were not at the same stage of maturity nor did they have the same total yield when their ages were identical with the exception of very young plants. The perceitage of ether extract was higher in the early variety when compared with plants of the same age from either the medium or late varieties. The late variety appear- ed to have a higher percent of crude fiber throughout the season than either the early or medium varieties. Rate of planting Data for the chemical composition of samples from different rates of planting are given in Table 12. most of the samples folloW'the sane trends as do those from other treatments. In the early stage of harvest the 30- pound rateshowed a higher percentage of protein than the 90-pound rate of planting. In comparing percentage of crude fiber, the 90-pound rate of planting was the highest recorded. This larger percentage of crude fiber Table 12. Chemical composition of samples fronidifferent rates of planting:_ Date of Rate of Protein Ash Ether Crude harvest planting Extract Fiber % % % % % August 5 30 pounds 17.69 10.19 1.31 30.19 per acre. 45 pounds 15.49 12.26 2.06 33.51 60 pounds 13.65 10.15 1.64 33.69 90 pounds 12.32 9.21 1.41 36.30 September 7 30 pounds 11.60 7.28 2.81 31.07 45 Pounds 10.41 6.93 3.66 2 9053 September 22 15 pounds 14.26 6.91 5.81 25.43 30 pounds 11.60 6.76 3.87 28.39 45_pounds 13.41 6.22 6.60 26.95 comes with the larger percentage of stems, produced by the thick rate of planting, in the early stages of growth. The higher percentage of leaves in the total yield from.the thin rate of planting gave it a high percentage of protein at the blossom stage of harvest. Usually a high percentage of stems and a low percentage of leaves gave a low protein percentage. SUMKARY Hay yields. The purpose of the problem.was to study the influence of leafiness, color, size of stem, percent of protein and proportion of leaves, pods and stems in the total crop upon the yield and quality of soybean hay under Michigan conditions. Samples were taken at'various intervals from July 26 until October 1. The early plants were in blossom at the first date and all plants had lost -54- most of their leaves by the final harvest. The yields of hay from the Lanchu variety, (containing 142 percent moisture), at different stages of maturity ranged from 0.64 tons per acre at blossom time to a maximum.of 2.3 tons when the lower leaves were turn- ing yellow (September 17), which was 108 days from time of planting. Total yields of leaves, pods and stems were also reported for each harvest. The maximum yield of leaves per acre occurred on the same date as the maximum total yield. Leaves constituted 64 percent of the total yield at the blossom stage and gradually decreased to 47 percent at the stage when the pods were well filled and lower leaves were turning yellow. This stage was followed by a rapid drop of leaves to 0 percent during the remaining two weeks of the season. The percentage of pods gradually increased but the increase was more marked near the end of the season. The total yield of stems did not increase markedly after the pods were well formed while the percentage of stems in the total yield was higher in the younger plants than in plants after the pods were well formed. An increase in the percentage of stems in the total yield was shown at the final date of harvest. Cayuga, Hanchu and Virginia were selected as the representatives of early, medium and late varieties, respectively. The Cayuga plants grew to full maturity. At the final Parvest, September 22, about half the leaves on the medium variety plants had turned yellow and the pods on the late variety plants were about half filled. All varieties made a rapid growth increase in total yield during the twosweek period, August 14 to August 27. This was approximately 74 days after the varieties were planted. During the two-week period, the early variety changed from pods half filled to the stage when half the leaves were yellowed, the medium variety developed from the stage cd‘very smell pods ‘1. fl 5’“ v ‘ ‘ its... '2 -v5- to pods less than half filled and the late variety came into blossomflabout the Huddle of the period. Up until and through the very rapid growth period all varieties made yield increases due to the growth of stems and leaves, except the Cayuga variety which made pod growth.during this time. Following August 27, pod growth accounted for yield increases in the early and medium varieties, where- as the late variety made gains in leaves, stems and pods. During the entire season the percentage of stems in all varieties remained practically con- stant. The highest percentage of leaves was obtained at the first harvest which gradually decreased as the plants natured. After blossoming, the percentage of pods compared to total yield increased rapidly. Manchu soybeans were planted at five different rates per acre in 28 inch rows. The higher rates of planting gave the highest forage yields. The thick 90-pound rate produced taller plants with more stems and leaves than the lower rates at the second harvest date. The thinner rates produced larger stemmed plants of a more bushy type. The percentage composition of the total yield for the plant parts was not influenced to any great extent by the rates of planting. Manchu soybeans were planted one-half, two, and three and one-half inches deep. An abundant supply of moisture at planting time allowed the shallow planted beans to come up immediately after planting. The different depths of planting apparently did not influence the growth of the soybeans during the season under the conditions of this test. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS Samples of the entire plants from the different harvests were taken for grinding and analyzing. The percentages of protein, ash,