Green stem is a term used to describe abnormal or delayed senescence maturation patterns in soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] where the stems of affected plants stay green even after pods reach physiological maturity. Green stem has been reported by agronomists throughout the United States, but it is generally more prevalent in the Southern United States. Green stem occurs when nutrient sink strength is weak, which can be associated with environmental stress, insect feeding, and some diseases. There is a genetic component to green stem development, and some varieties are more prone to green stem than others. Management options are somewhat limited, since by the time green stem is observed, most management choices will require delaying harvest, which reduces seed quality. Primary options include waiting to harvest until after a hard frost or using desiccant products prior to harvest.

Enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizer (EENF) is a viable N management tool that can minimize N loss and maximize crop productivity. Research on the efficiency of EENF under relatively newer N-sidedress placement methods for liquid fertilizers, such as Y-Drop dribble, is limited, hence the necessity to address this knowledge gap. A two-year field trial was conducted to evaluate ammonia volatilization, grain quality, and grain yield from surface-applied EENF forms of urea and EENF forms of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) applied under four placement methods in a rainfed no-till corn production system. The EENF forms of urea evaluated in this trial included Environmentally Smart Nitrogen, SuperU, and ANVOL-treated urea, while ANVOL-treated UAN was the EENF form of UAN. All the urea fertilizers were surface broadcasted while the UAN fertilizers were broadcasted, dribbled in between rows, Y-Drop dribbled, and injected behind colters. Among the non-EENF, urea volatilized the most ammonia (23.1% of total N applied) compared to UAN. Broadcast UAN was much more susceptible to ammonia volatilization than dribbled UAN in between rows. In this trial, the EENF forms of urea and UAN reduced ammonia loss by 65 to 94 and 50 to 51%, respectively, compared to their corresponding non-EENF forms. In 2021, the grain yield of the non-EENF forms of UAN was similar to the EENF forms of the corresponding placement methods. In contrast, there was an additive yield effect from all the urea forms of EENF. A significant negative relationship was observed between ammonia loss and grain protein, grain N, and grain yield; hence, placement methods with higher ammonia loss potential are prone to yield loss.

Harvest aids, such as foliar‐applied crop defoliants or desiccants, are tools available to soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] farmers that can homogenize maturity and help facilitate earlier soybean harvest, particularly when extreme weather events are forecasted. Prior research has shown soybean harvest aids increase harvest efficiency but has been limited primarily to states in the southern United States. Further investigation on the utility of harvest aids across the majority of US soybean production is warranted as incorrect desiccation timing can significantly reduce seed, protein, and oil yield. In 2024, a study was conducted at 19 sites across 13 US states to test the effect of planting date, maturity group, and desiccation timing on soybean seed yield, protein and oil yield, green stem incidence, and harvest timing. Seed yield reductions were rare when desiccation occurred at R7 but were common at R6.5 applications. Seed protein and oil yield was not affected by desiccation at R7 but was reduced with some R6.5 applications. Desiccation at R6.5 and R7 reduced green stem incidence 50% of the time. Harvest could occur 15 days earlier in the southern United States when desiccation occurred at R6.5 or R7, while harvest could occur 4 and 3 days earlier in the northern United States, respectively. Overall, the data show a harvest aid applied at soybean R7 can allow farmers to harvest earlier with low risk of seed, protein, or oil yield reductions.