Soybean relative maturity group choices may not be related to latitude only

Selecting an appropriate relative maturity group (MG) soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] for a geographic location within a state is a crucial factor in ensuring profitable soybean production. Choosing an inappropriate MG can significantly reduce yield. We determined the probability of a relative MG yielding similar to or better than the other MGs by analyzing the yield data of full-season and double-crop soybean from Official Variety Tests (OVT) that were conducted across five locations in Virginia from 2006 to 2015. We considered MGs 3 to 5 for full-season and MGs 4 to 5 for double-crop soybean. Each MG was divided into three sub-groups: early (x.0-x.3), mid (x.4-x.6), and late (x.7-x.9). While MG significantly influenced soybean yield in most site-years with few exceptions, location affected the yield performance of a MG more for full-season than double-crop soybean. For full-season soybean, late MG-3 and 4 at Orange (38.3°N, −78.1°W), early to mid-MG-5 at Warsaw (38.0°N, −76.8°W), mid to late MG-4 at Painter (37.6°N, −75.8°W), and early to late MG-5 at Blackstone (37.1°N, −78.0°W) and Suffolk (36.7°N, −76.8°W), VA, had the highest outyielding capacity and probability to yield similar to or greater than other MGs. For double-crop soybean, late MG-4 consistently performed best across most locations, except for Blackstone, where early MG-5 was the optimal choice. Results offer valuable insights to soybean producers for confidently selecting the best MG with the greatest yield probability in their farming locations within Virginia. This analysis can serve as a model for similar investigations in other states using OVT data.