Technical Abstract: Environmental conditions in the northern Great Plains can delay emergence, nitrogen (N) fixation and growth of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] due to cool and wet soil conditions at planting. Fertilizer N applied at planting may increase initial growth of soybean. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of low rates of N applied at planting on soybean N fixation and crop growth. A field experiment was established within a 2-yr corn [Zea mays (L.)] soybean rotation using a split-plot design with four replications. Whole plots were no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) and the split plots were starter fertilizer (two sources x four rates) treatments. Nitrogen sources were either ammonium nitrate (AN) or urea (UR) each applied at 0, 8, 16, and 24 kg N ha-1. Early growth was stimulated by application of N with biomass increasing as N rate increased. The amount of plant N fixation increased with growth stage reaching a maximum fixation at the R5 growth stages. Plant ureide content (an estimate of N fixation) decrease with increase N applied for all growth stages except R7. Nitrogen applied at planting reduced early season N fixation, but increased biomass production. At later growth stages, impact of N fertilization on ureide content decreased. The increase in plant biomass contributed to an overall increase in yield indicating that in unfavorable environments application of N at planting can have a positive impact on soybean growth.