The 2025 Ohio Soybean Performance Trials


Allen Geyer, Matthew Hankinson, John McCormick, and Laura Lindsey
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
Ohio State University Extension and OARDC

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the Ohio Soybean Performance Trials is to evaluate soybean varieties for yield and other agronomic characteristics. This evaluation gives soybean producers comparative information for selecting the best varieties for their unique production systems.

FIELD PLOT DESIGN

The entries for each test site were planted in a randomized complete block design. Each entry was replicated four times and planted in plots 28 ft long and 5 ft wide containing four rows seeded at 15-inch row width. Seeding rate was 150,000 seeds per acre. Corn was the previous crop at all locations. All locations were no-till except the C2 which was minimum till and S2 which was planted into a stale seedbed. Farmer cooperators sprayed pre-emergence herbicides (varied by location). All locations were sprayed post-emergence with First Rate, Flexstar, and Select Max.

METHOD OF CONDUCTING TRIALS

Entries in Trials

Performance of entries in The Ohio Soybean Performance Trials are published if seed will be available to Ohio soybean producers for the following planting season. All 2025 entries were submitted voluntarily by seed companies. Entry fee charges were paid per entry and region.

Test by Maturity and Type

Varieties were grouped, tested, and analyzed by maturity (early and late). Conventional (CV), Enlist (EN), and XtendFlex (XF) varieties were tested in the same block to allow for head-to-head comparisons. Varieties are comparable within a location and maturity grouping (early or late). Conventional herbicides were sprayed on all entries. Use the table below to find varieties by region and maturity.

2025 Tables by Region and Maturity Grouping
Region Maturity Group Table
North Early (2.3-3.1) Table 3
Late (3.2-3.9) Table 4
Central Early (2.4-3.3) Table 5
Late (3.4-3.9) Table 6
South Early (2.8-3.6) Table 7
Late (3.7-4.4) Table 8

MEASUREMENTS AND RECORDS

Relative Maturity

Relative maturity (RM) is a rating designed to account for all of the factors that affect maturity date and includes variety, planting date, weather, and latitude. Maturity is defined as the "95% brown pods" stage. A variety with a RM rating of 3.5 should reach the 95% brown pod stage 5 days later than a variety with a rating of 3.0. RM was submitted by seed companies.

Lodging Score

There was no lodging in 2025.

Seed Size

Seed size is reported as number of seeds per pound. Seed size was determined from varieties grown at the C2 location.

Yield

Each soybean variety was harvested when the moisture content was between 8 and 14 percent and yields reported in bushels per acre at 13 percent moisture.

Protein, Oil %

Analysis was determined by near infrared transmittance technology. The test was performed using a Foss NIR whole grain analyzer and is reported at 13 percent moisture. Protein and oil were determined from varieties grown at the C2 location.

LSD

A Least Significant Difference (LSD) for yield was computed for each location and maturity grouping. LSDs are reported in bushels per acre at 13 percent moisture. Yields of two varieties within a location and maturity grouping are significantly different 90% of the time if their yields differ by more than the LSD value shown for that maturity group. A double asterisk (**) is used to denote the variety with the highest yield within a location and maturity grouping. A single asterisk (*) is used to denote varieties with yield not statistically different than the highest yielding variety.

DATA USE

Inclusion of entries in the Ohio Soybean Performance Trials does not constitute an endorsement of a particular entry by the Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, or Ohio State University Extension.

Table 1: The 2025 Ohio Soybean Performance Trials, Site Descriptions
N1 N2 C1 C2 S1 S2
Location Henry Co. Sandusky Co. Mercer Co. Licking Co. Preble Co. Clinton Co.
Soil texture Clay Sandy clay loam Clay loam Clay loam Clay loam Silty clay loam
Organic matter (%) 3.8 3.1 3.1 3.6 3.7 4.6
Soil pH 6.6 6.7 7.1 6.7 6.3 6.3
Soil Test P-Mehlich (ppm) 42 24 90 36 146 62
Soil Test K (ppm) 188 131 143 209 178 138
Plant date May 27 May 30 May 19 May 12 April 28 May 15
Harvest date Oct 11 Oct 13 Oct 14 Oct 1 Sept 30 Oct 15

DATA USE. Inclusion of entries in the Ohio Soybean Performance Trials does not constitute an endorsement of a particular entry by the Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, or Ohio State University Extension.

Go to Ohio Crop Performance

11/2025
    All educational programs and activities conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jacqueline Kirby Wilkins, Director, Ohio State University Extension.