Michigan State University Extension
Soils & Soil Management - Fertilizer - 06029713
07/10/97
Fertilizer Recommendations for Field Crops in Michigan Extension Bulletin E-550A, March 1992
D. R. Christenson, D. D. Warncke, M. L. Vitosh, L. W. Jacobs and J. G. Dahl, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Both types of beans are very sensitive to fertilizer applied in contact with the seed. Apply row fertilizer 2 inches to the side and 2 inches below the seed. For dry beans, up to 40 lb of nitrogen, all of the phosphorus, and 60 lb potash may be included in the starter fertilizer. Before planting, broadcast and incorporate any additional fertilizer if needed. For soybeans grown on soils testing below 40 pounds per acre for phosphorus, apply all of the phosphorus and up to 60 lb of potash in the banded fertilizer. On soils testing higher in phosphorus, equal success can be obtained with broadcast fertilizer, except where manganese is required. When this nutrient is needed, the most efficient method of application is with the starter fertilizer.
Soybeans that are well inoculated with Rhizobium bacteria prior to seeding or grown in soil containing a sufficient population of Rhizobia have rarely shown any yield response to nitrogen fertilizer. When these bacteria supply adequate nitrogen for the soybean crop, nitrogen fertilization is not recommended. Be sure to inoculate the soybean seed if a well nodulated soybean crop has not been grown in that field in the past three years.
Soybeans and field beans often need manganese when grown on organic soils and dark-colored sandy soils with a pH higher than 5.8 or lake bed soils and depressional areas having gray subsoil and a surface pH above 6.5. Follow the recommended rate based on soil tests in (Vis. 3), (Vis. 4). Foliar applications are also effective and often preferred, especially when growing soybeans on organic soils.
Field beans grown on soils with a pH of 7.2 or higher are highly responsive to zinc fertilizer. Zinc deficiency is particularly noticeable on land previously planted to sugar beets, or where calcareous subsoils are exposed by land leveling or after tiling. Recommendations based on soil test are given in (Vis. 5).
Mineral Soils-Nitrogen fertilizer is not recommended for soybeans. Apply 40 lb N/acre for field beans grown in 28- or 30-inch rows and 60 lb N/acre for beans grown in rows less than 23 inches wide and for colored beans grown with irrigation. Phosphate and potash recommendations are given in (Vis. 12).
Organic Soils-(Vis. 16), (Vis. 17), (Vis. 18) give recommendations.
