Soybeans are grown extensively on the Grundy silt loam in southern Iowa. This soil usually requires from 2 to 3 tons of limestone to correct the acidity. Furthermore, it does not naturally contain the nitrogen-fixing soybean root-nodule bacteria. Hence, experiments were conducted to determine the effects of liming and inoculation on the yield and quality of soybeans grown on typical Grundy silt loam. The experiments were conducted near Osceola in Clarke County.

Quarry-run limestone was applied to different plots in varying amounts, ranging from 1 to 6 tons per acre. On other plots limestone of different degrees of fineness was applied. Two plots were left untreated to serve as checks. At planting time inoculated soybeans were sown on half of each plot and seed without inoculation on the other half.