Do soybeans actually need to be pressed after sowing?
Whether soybeans need to be pressed after sowing depends on the soil moisture conditions. When the subsoil moisture is good, the surface soil moisture is poor, and the soil is dry and loose, pressing after sowing helps the seeds make close contact with the soil and eliminates air pockets; it will not cause the soil above the soybeans to crust over, and it helps the seeds absorb water and germinate, so emergence will be faster. You can press while sowing. ...
Whether soybeans need to be pressed after sowing depends on the soil moisture conditions. When the subsoil moisture is good, the surface soil moisture is poor, and the soil is dry and loose, pressing after sowing helps the seeds make close contact with the soil and eliminates air pockets; it will not cause the soil above the soybeans to crust over, and it helps the seeds absorb water and germinate, so emergence will be faster. You can press while sowing.
If the soil moisture is relatively high and both the surface and subsoil moisture are good, you must never press after sowing. If you press at this time, including by stepping on it, it will cause the soil above the seeds to crust over, making it difficult for the soybeans to push through the soil during emergence and resulting in missing plants. To prevent the soil from not being firmed properly after sowing, poor contact between the seeds and the soil, and air pockets, you can use a rake to level the surface layer after sowing.