Digging into corn and soybean growth

By Greg LaBarge, Ohio State University Extension

If the growth of corn and soybeans is not what you were expecting, look below the soil surface for answers. Our 2026 growing season has given us moisture and temperature conditions that have made achieving even emergence and maintaining the emerged stand challenging. Stand loss due to drowning out, plant freezing, and variable soil moisture conditions at planting have required more trips across the field than we would have liked. Lessons to apply for future years can be learned by spending some time evaluating the stands we end up with. The best tools for this evaluation are a shovel and knowledge of what plant roots look like under various conditions.

Evaluating uneven corn and soybean roots requires carefully digging up representative seedlings (rather than pulling them) to expose the full root architecture. The root structure will typically reveal specific physical or chemical limitations. Understanding root orientation and soil health helps distinguish between planter issues, compaction, and early-season diseases.… Continue reading