July 26, 2002
|
Insect Management
Wheat
Soybeans Making Forage Management Resources AgNews
|
Heavy infestations of this insect can cause significant damage and yield loss. Yield losses exceeding 25% were observed in Minnesota and Iowa last year. In addition, soybean aphids can transmit viral diseases, such as alfalfa mosaic, soybean mosaic, bean yellow mosaic, peanut mottle, peanut smut, and peanut stripe.
This issue of Crop Watch will discuss soybean aphid biology, life cycle, management, current status in Nebraska, and ongoing research.
Soybean aphid description
The aphid is light green to pale yellow, less than 1/16 inch long, and has two black-tipped cornicles (cornicles look like tailpipes) on the rear of the abdomen. It has peircing-sucking mouthparts and typically feeds on new tissue near the top of soybean plants or on the undersides of mature leaves. Later in the season the aphids can be found on all parts of the plant. It is the only aphid in North America that forms colonies on soybean.
Life cycle and injury to soybean
The seasonal life cycle of the soybean aphid is complex with up to 18 generations a year. It requires two species of host plant -- the buckthorn and soybean -- to complete its life cycle. Buckthorn is a woody shrub or tree and is the overwintering host plant of the aphid. Soybean aphids lay eggs on buckthorn in the fall. These eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring, giving rise to wingless females. These females reproduce without mating, producing more females. After two or three generations on buckthorn, winged females are produced that migrate to soybean. Multiple generations of wingless female aphids are produced on soybeans until late summer/fall, when winged females and males are produced that migrate back to buckthorn, where they mate. The females then lay eggs on buckthorn, which overwinter, thus completing the seasonal cycle.
Soybean aphid populations can grow to extremely high levels under favorable environmental conditions. Reproduction is fastest when temperatures are 72-77oF. Developmental time slows when temperatures exceed 81oF. When populations reach high levels during the summer (there are reports of up to 13,000 aphids per plant), winged females are produced that migrate to other soybean fields. Like a number of other insect species (e.g. potato leafhoppers), these migrants can be caught up in weather patterns, moved great distances, and end up infesting fields far from their origin.
Soybean aphids injure soybeans by removing plant sap with their needle-like mouthparts. Symptoms of soybeans infested by soybean aphid may include yellowed, distorted leaves and stunted plants. A charcoal-colored residue also may be present on the plants. This is sooty mold that grows on the honeydew that aphids excrete. Soybean plants appear to be most vulnerable to aphid injury during the early reproductive stages. Heavy aphid infestations during these stages cause reduced pod and seed counts.
Soybean aphid management
At this time, soybean aphid management recommendations vary and are often based on subjective observations. The aphid is very new to North America and experience with the insect is limited. The following guidelines are adapted from those of Iowa ("Soybean aphids: economic thresholds," Marlin Rice, 7/1/2002, Iowa State Integrated Crop Management Newsletter). As we gain more experience with the aphid, recommendations will be refined and developed to manage the aphid under Nebraska conditions.
Begin weekly scouting of soybean fields in late June. If possible, scout five locations per 20 acres. At each location, pick five plants and examine the underside of the leaves for aphids. Make rough estimates of aphid numbers per plant (i.e. dozen, hundred, several hundred, over one thousand).
Look for the presence of aphid natural enemies such as lady beetles, green lacewings, and other insect predators. These predators may keep low or moderate aphid populations in check. The presence of "fuzzy" aphid carcasses indicate fungal pathogens are present, which can lead to dramatic reductions of aphid populations.
Check the upper two or three trifoliate leaves for aphids in July. Aphids are most likely to concentrate at the top of the plant, although in later reproductive stages they will move onto stems and within the canopy.
Take note of winged aphids or "broad-shouldered " nymphs. Nymphs with broad or squared- off shoulders will become winged adults. These aphids will leave the plant, so if the majority of aphids are winged or about to become winged adults, the field may not have to be treated because the population will rapidly decline.
Take note of plant condition. Plants under moisture stress are more vulnerable to economic damage.
Closely examine late emerging soybean fields. It appears aphids damage late-planted soybeans more than early-planted soybeans. Use guidelines (above) to help determine when treatment is necessary.
|
Preliminary research has indicated that the highest yield responses were obtained when insecticide treatment occurred between mid-July and the first few days of August (early reproductive stages). Treatment after this period resulted in less yield response. If fields are treated, leave an untreated test strip to compare against sprayed sections. This also provides a refuge for beneficial insects.
Good insecticide coverage and penetration is required for optimal control of soybean aphid, as aphids feed on the undersides of the leaves and within the canopy. Use high water volume and pressure.
Several insecticides are labeled for the soybean aphid (Chinese aphid on some labels), including Asana XL, Furadan 4F, Lorsban 4E, Mustang, Penncap-M, Pounce 3.2EC, and Warrior. Be sure to read the label for preharvest intervals, etc.
The most severe yield losses associated with soybean aphid occur when the aphid colonizes the soybean plant in the early vegetative stages and undergoes rapid population growth to reach high populations during the early reproductive stages (R1, R2). Fortunately for Nebraska, only low aphid populations have been found and most soybean fields are now at or entering reproductive stage R3, so it is unlikely we will experience the yield reductions reported in other regions. However, because aphids are capable of explosive population growth, farmers should still scout their soybean fields for this insect. Also, although the aphid has only been found in eight Nebraska counties, it is likely established throughout eastern Nebraska. There may be pockets where the aphid has thrived.
Resources
More information on the soybean aphid can be found through the UNL Entomology web site, http://entomology.unl.edu, and at the Soybean Aphid Watch web site at http://www.pmcenters.org/Northcentral/Saphid/Aphidindex.htm.
Tom Hunt
Extension Entomologist
Northeast REC
Soybean aphid research in Nebraska
Because the soybean aphid is so new to North America, researchers are still determining
soybean aphid biology, impact, and management options in North America. It is likely that the
aphid will behave differently in different parts of the Midwest, so it is important that aphid
infestations be reported to Nebraska researchers so Nebraska-specific studies can be initiated. If
you find aphids in your soybeans this season, please contact Tom Hunt, UNL Extension
Entomology Specialist, Haskell Ag Lab, Concord, NE,(402) 584-2863, thunt2@unl.edu.
UNL entomologists Tom Hunt and Leon Higley have initiated several projects that address the soybean aphid. A project funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board, Soybean Aphid Survey and Early Warning Program, will identify regions in Nebraska with the potential for early season soybean aphid colonization of soybean, establish survey circuits in eastern Nebraska for aphids on overwintering hosts and soybean fields, alert farmers upon the earliest appearance of the soybean aphid in Nebraska, and disseminate the most recent aphid biology and management information.
Another collaborative project between Nebraska and Minnesota addresses the physiological responses of soybean to aphid injury. This project is led by Dr. Higley and will be instrumental for the development of economic thresholds and management strategies for the soybean aphid on soybean. Other research projects planned by UNL entomologists and agronomists include those examining soybean aphid biology, population dynamics, plant-insect relationships, insecticide efficacy, disease-vector relationships, and resistance/tolerance in soybean germplasm.
Tom Hunt
Extension Entomologist
Northeast REC
Management tips, July 26 - Aug. 9
New farm bill allows base acre/yield changes,
includes soybean as a commodity
|
Soybeans and other oilseeds now will become commodity crops and are eligible for direct payments that are guaranteed each of the next six years. The new counter cyclical payments will replace the market loss and oilseed payments that have been provided each of the past three years. These payments are received when prices are low and decline as the national price increases.
Steven Johnson, an extension field specialist from Iowa State University, said a major decision will need to be made by farm land owners and operators by FSA farm number. They will need to determine whether to keep old base acres and yields and update to soybeans or to update to new base acres and yields of crops planted or prevented planted in the new base years, 1998 to 2001. Johnson said these decisions could easily make a difference of $5 to $25 per acre in payments annually for each tillable acre over the six-year life of the new farm bill. A national signup for landowners and operators that includes the 2002 commodity crops is expected to begin within the next six weeks at county FSA offices.
Johnson will be one of the speakers at this year’s Soybean Management Field Days to be held at four sites across the state Aug. 14-18.
Johnson and Roy Smith, a Nebraska farmer and ag market consultant, will present information on “finding stronger links to profitability” at each of the field days.
University researchers and specialists also will be addressing pressing soybean production issues and explore methods for improving production cost efficiencies. Other topics and their presenters are:
“Innovation, experience, perseverance, and new knowledge -- for decades this has been the formula for success in American agriculture,” according to Keith Glewen, event co-coordinator and NU Extension Educator.
“Nebraska soybean growers are facing challenges like they have never experienced before. By attending the Soybean Management Field Days, growers will take home unbiased, research-based answers to enhance profitability and remain competitive.
The field days will be held at each site from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and features field stops at demonstration plots, a free lunch and a question and answer period. Field days sites are:
The stalk causes most of our problems. Tall plants are difficult to
mow. Disk mowers work quite well and many folks have had success using a
windrower with a good, adjustable reel that pulls in the corn as it's cut.
You can't drive very fast, though, if there is much volume. Laying corn
down with a straight sickle bar works sometimes, but it takes a heavy-duty
machine with sharp sickles to handle thick stalks.
Conditioning stalks is crucial to get plants dry with any kind of
speed. Unbroken stalks can lie in the windrow for weeks before being dry
enough to bale, even with mid-summer heat.
Raking tall plants also is difficult. They tend to get tangled,
making an uneven, bunchy windrow, or wrap on the rake. Adjusting speed can
help some if you have this problem.
The dry corn bales somewhat normally, but stalks often cause the
bale's outer surface to remain uneven. Sometimes stalks stick out and extra twine wraps may be needed to hold bales together well. The uneven surface
does not shed water as well, so store on well-drained sites.
After baling, be sure to remember to get a sample tested for nitrates.
Grinding may be needed to blend high nitrate hay with other feeds
for safety as well as to encourage animals to eat the entire bale.
Bruce Anderson
Selecting different parts of the plant to sample can be helpful. For example,
gather all the leaves and maybe the softer top part of
the stalk from several plants. If the nitrate test shows that this
material is below the danger level, animals can graze this field quite
safely as long as they have plenty of leaves to selectively graze without
being forced to eat lower stalks.
Or maybe some fields have areas with extra short plants that might be
more attractive to grazing animals than taller plants nearby. A sample of
these short plants might indicate they contain extra high levels of
nitrates. You might fence out this area when grazing.
What about the lower stalk all by itself? Since the bottom three
inches usually can't be harvested or grazed, it's not too important. But,
separating the 3- to 12-inch portion of the stalk from the rest of
the plant will let you compare their nitrate concentrations. This can aid
your decision about how high to cut in order to leave a higher proportion
of the nitrates in the field.
Finally, hand chopping and subsampling the large volume of materiel
gathered when a dozen or more plants are collected for a sample is
difficult. I suggest sending all the whole plants to the lab and letting
them do the work or use a wood chipper to get uniform chopping and more
reliable subsampling.
Creative sampling can help you better manage use of high-nitrate crops.
Bruce Anderson
In university field studies conducted in western Nebraska and throughout the western winter
wheat belt, the system provided excellent control of jointed goatgrass and downy brome when
weeds were treated with 4 ounces of product per acre in the fall or early spring. Good control of
feral rye required an early fall application with 5 ounces of product per acre. Optimum control of
feral rye was achieved when Beyond was applied before rye plants had produced a tiller. To
prevent injury, wheat plants had to have at least three leaves emerged. No previous technology
has provided this level of selective control for jointed goatgrass or feral rye in winter wheat.
However, as with most technology, there are some concerns with using this system.
Among university weed control specialists, the biggest concern with the Clearfield production
system for wheat is the potential development of herbicide-resistant weeds. Because Beyond
provides such excellent control of jointed goatgrass and downy brome, it will exert a tremendous
selection pressure for resistance.
Beyond belongs to a class of herbicides known as ALS-inhibitors. Other herbicides in this class,
such as Glean and Pursuit, have a history of quickly selecting for resistance in weed populations.
Examples include ALS-resistant kochia, prickly lettuce, and pigweed. In the case of jointed
goatgrass, resistance also may occur through pollen transfer. Jointed goatgrass and wheat share a
common genome, the D genome, acquired from a common ancestor. Research has shown that
there is a slight chance of moving the resistance gene from a Clearfield cultivar to jointed
goatgrass within several generations. Without adequate safeguards, it is likely that weeds
resistant to Beyond will be common in just a few years.
In order to delay the onset of herbicide resistance, fields treated with Beyond should not be
treated with another ALS-inhibitor such as Ally or Peak. If additional weed control is needed, for
example to control warm season broadleaf weeds like kochia or pigweeds, use a herbicide with a
different mode of action. Herbicides containing 2,4-D or dicamba would be good choices for
additional weed control.
The BASF Clearfield stewardship program for wheat requires the use of only certified seed in
order to prevent the pollen flow required to produce a jointed goatgrass plant with resistance to
Beyond. Growers will not be allowed to save back any grain for seed. The stewardship program
also does not allow the use of the CPSW more than twice in a four-year period. University
researchers in the Great Plains are concerned that this requirement is not adequate to sufficiently
delay the onset of herbicide-resistant weeds. They recommend that the CPSW not be used more
than once every three years. This would prevent growers in the winter wheat-fallow rotation from
using the system every time they grow wheat.
Another concern with this system is the high cost of the herbicide. The price is expected to be
between $14 and $16 per acre for a 4-ounce-per-acre use rate. There will likely be a rebate
program in the Great Plains that will return about $2 of this price to the grower.
For the 2002 planting season, there will only be three Clearfield cultivars available to Nebraska
growers. These are Above, AP 401CL, and AP 502CL. Above is a public variety developed at
Colorado State University. It is a TAM 110 type with marginal adaptation for Nebraska. Agripro
will have two Clearfield cultivars for sale. AP 401CL is a hard white wheat with the gene for
tolerance to Beyond and AP 502CL is similar to Above. Dr. Stephen Baenziger, wheat breeder at
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, expects to have several high yielding Nebraska-adapted
cultivars for the CPSW available to growers in the fall of 2005 or 2006.
The gene conferring resistance to Beyond was developed by mutagenesis, a technique that has
been used in plant breeding for over 70 years. Cultivars with the gene are not considered to be
genetically modified organisms, also known as GMOs, and market acceptability is not a concern.
Growers interested in the CPSW should check with their local BASF agricultural representative
or agricultural chemical dealer. Growers will be required to sign a contract with BASF to ensure
stewardship requirements are followed. With proper management, the CPSW provides winter
wheat growers with a very effective weapon to gain the upper hand in the battle against jointed
goatgrass, feral rye, and downy brome.
Drew Lyon
We were surprised this year by the amount of wheat streak mosaic in Nebraska. The disease was
not only present in western Nebraska, but caused isolated losses in some fields in southeast
Nebraska. Wheat streak mosaic is a nasty disease that ranks number one in importance in our
state along with crown and root rot and leaf rust.
In a May 2002 survey in the Panhandle, all wheat streak mosaic situations found in that survey
could be traced to the presence of volunteer wheat in the adjacent stubble. In some cases the
amount of volunteer was small, but it doesn't take much to provide that summer bridge necessary
for mite survival. The volunteer that emerges before harvest is the cause of the problem. Late
volunteer emerging after harvest posses little threat in the epidemiology of wheat streak mosaic.
In the July 12, 2002 CropWatch, Bob Klein, Drew Lyon and Gail Wicks provided information on
controlling weeds after wheat harvest. Good weed control after harvest and planting at the proper
time are two important steps in controlling wheat streak mosaic and crown and root rot.
John Watkins
Plants 6 inches tall to boot stage
Boot to heading
Heading to hard dough
Parasitism should increase in the next couple of weeks. For additional information on greenbug
management, refer to the UNL Department of Entomology Web page.
ZB Mayo, Head
Fields with green silks during the peak moth flight period are most susceptible to
second-generation egg laying. The white, flat eggs overlap each other like fish scales and are laid
in masses of five to 40 eggs. Eggs are most likely found on the underside of leaves, near the
mid-rib, on the ear leaf and the three leaves above or below the ear leaf. Approximately 90% of the egg masses will be found on these middle seven leaves. A black spot is visible on
the eggs for about 24 hours before they hatch. The spot is the head of the developing corn borer;
this stage is often referred to as the black head stage.
To determine whether control would be profitable, examine 25 plants at four sites per field (100
plants total). Record the number of egg masses and the number of plants sampled. If you sampled
only the middle seven leaves, multiply the number of egg masses by 1.1 to estimate the total
present over the whole plant. Use this adjusted mean in the worksheet. Go through the
calculations outlined in the worksheet available from NebFact 98-365, Second Generation
European Corn Borer Scouting and Treatment Decisions) to determine if an economic infestation is
present. You also will need to know:
Infestations are most damaging when corn borers enter the stalk early in corn's reproductive
cycle. There is a short time between first egg hatch and significant stalk tunneling when corn
borers are best controlled. Concentrate scouting efforts in this early egg laying period and repeat
every three to five days. Often, second generation egg laying may extend to 21 days or more.
Although later hatching corn borers do not directly reduce grain yield as much, they may still
cause stalk breakage or ear drop. Early harvest of fields damaged by corn borers and selecting
varieties with good stalk strength and resistance to stalk rot can reduce this loss.
If treatment is needed, time insecticide applications to coincide with the beginning of egg hatch
to achieve acceptable control. Generally, liquid and granular formulations of the same insecticide
are equally effective against corn borer larvae. However, in considering other pests that may need
to be controlled at this time of year (western bean cutworms, rootworm beetles, grasshoppers,
spider mites), liquids may be preferred. Rates and restrictions of registered insecticides for
European corn borer control can be found on the label or at the UNL Entomology home page.
Robert Wright
Harvest soybean forage before bottom leaves first start to turn yellow. If possible, cut earlier than
this because late cut soybean stems become woody and are of poor quality. It is especially
important to harvest before a freeze to prevent rapid leaf loss.
Making hay
If harvesting soybeans as hay, be sure to condition or crimp the hay to hasten stem dry down.
Also, avoid raking if at all possible. Soybean leaves crumble easily when dry, reducing yield and
lowering feed value. In addition, stems are woody and dry slowly, making it hard to dry soybean
hay easily. If you rake windrows to dry out any stems on the bottom, leaves are apt to crumble
and fall away, leaving just sticks for hay.
Producers have two options for haying soybeans. You can leave the windrow alone while it
slowly dries and hope that it doesn't rain before it's fit to bale. This may be your best option if
weather cooperates. The second option is to rake soy hay within a day of cutting, before leaves
on top have dried enough to crumble. This may be your only option if raking is necessary to put
two or more windrows together for satisfactory baling.
Making silage
Making good soy silage is less risky if you have silage equipment and follow the procedure.
When making silage, chop when the moisture content is between 60% and 70%. This often
occurs as leaves first start to turn yellow. Chop soybean plants well and pack them tightly.
Uniformly add a silage inoculant designed for legumes like alfalfa and one or two bushels of
rolled or ground grain to each ton of silage to improve fermentation. Another option is to add
fifty pounds of molasses to each ton of wet silage to aid fermentation.
A better method may be to mix the chopped soybean plants in with corn or sorghum silage. A
ratio of one ton soybean silage to three or four tons of corn or sorghum silage will improve
fermentation of the soybean silage and increase protein content of the corn or sorghum silage by
2 to 3 points. And pack soy silage especially well.
Grazing
Soybeans can even be grazed. Cattle generally take some time becoming accustomed to
soybeans, eating weeds along fences and between rows before starting on the bean plants. Once
they begin grazing the soybeans, though, they quickly adapt and readily eat most of the plant.
Before turning animals into soybean fields to graze, fill them with some other feed like grass hay
to discourage them from quickly eating a large meal of a new feedstuff. Cattle can bloat when
grazing soybeans, but it occurs only rarely. Soybeans also cause loose manure in some animals;
providing some grass hay free choice for those animals can reduce these problems.
Salvaging soybeans as a forage may not be fool-proof, but it can result in a pretty good feed.
Bruce Anderson
If soils are deficient in nitrogen, the plants may turn yellow. If soils have high residual nitrogen levels, you may not see any deficiency symptoms. When I’ve seen these problems before, the yellowing patterns followed anhydrous ammonia application patterns on the previous corn crop.
It would pay to dig some plants if you are not certain of the nodulation status or if yellow patterns develop. Be aware that nodule counts often vary considerably among plants. Carefully dig at least 10 plants in several parts of the field for evaluation.
Yellow patterns, however, may not be related to nodulation problems. Consider other sources of yellowing before concluding it is a nodulation problem. These include:
Soybeans with a full size pod in the top four nodes (R5) are just beginning to reach the point of maximum nitrogen uptake. Access to nitrogen during pod elongation (R4) and seed fill (R5-R6) is necessary to produce maximum yields. Well-nodulated soybeans can fix up to half of their nitrogen needs from the soil atmospheric nitrogen. This may not happen with low nodule counts and with low soil residual nitrogen. Extension soil specialists have suggested that 50 to 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre could be applied to solve nitrogen deficiency problems. If the seeds are less than full size in the top four nodes (that is before the R6 stage), you may expect some yield response to applied nitrogen assuming plants are yellow and nodulation is poor. The method of nitrogen application will depend on your individual situation and equipment availability.
Roger Elmore
Making hay from corn
Drought damaged corn released by insurance companies for forage use can make good hay, but making it is tricky. Baling corn is not a normal farming practice, but it might be the
best option this year for some drought stricken fields. If you've ever
made cane hay or baled tall sorghum-sudangrass, you have some experience
with this type of plant and know it can be challenging.
Extension Forage Specialist
Sampling hay for nitrates
As expected, nitrate levels have been high in many samples tested
recently in area labs. Be sure to sample and test corn and other plants
for nitrates to help guide management and use decisions?
Extension Forage Specialist
New wheat cultivar, herbicide increase weed control options
This season wheat growers will have a new tool to manage some of their toughest weeds, such as
jointed goatgrass, feral rye, and downy brome. BASF Corporation is offering the Clearfield
Production System for Wheat (CPSW). It combines the use of Beyond herbicide with a winter
wheat cultivar containing the gene that confers tolerance to this herbicide. Wheat cultivars that
contain this gene may be treated with Beyond with minimal risk of injury to the crop. Winter
wheat cultivars that do not contain the tolerance gene are seriously injured or killed when treated
with Beyond.
Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist
Gail Wicks
Extension Weeds Specialist
Control volunteer wheat to prevent wheat streak mosaic
While the dry weather, particularly in western Nebraska, has probably restricted the growth of
volunteer wheat, it would still benefit growers to check their stubble fields for the presence of
any volunteer.
Extension Plant Pathologist
Scout for greenbugs in sorghum; check threshold
Greenbugs are approaching damaging number in some sorghum fields and should be monitored
closely for the next couple of weeks. Predator populations, particularly lady beetles and
lacewings are increasing, and a few greenbug parasites (mummies) have been found in some
fields. Because parasites and predators can be highly effective in controlling greenbugs and
insecticide resistance is an occasional problem in Nebraska, it is advisable to delay use of
insecticides as long as possible. Following are the treatment thresholds for greenbugs.
Department of Entomology
Second flight European corn borers underway
The second flight of European corn borer (ECB) moths has begun in Nebraska. Moth counts
have been relatively low to date in the southern half of Nebraska (well below 100 per night), and
are just starting in the northern half of the state. Current information on light trap catches can be
found at the UNL Department of Entomology Web site on its Field Crops page.
Timely and accurate scouting is the key to managing ECB in standard (non-Bt) corn hybrids.
Remember that conditions are localized and fields must be scouted on an individual basis to
make accurate decisions. We have had it easy the last few years -- flights have been relatively
low; however, this cannot last forever. Last year's flights were up a little from the previous few
years, as was this year's first flight. Begin scouting fields soon to determine when egg laying
begins in your area.
An interactive version of this worksheet also is available. This worksheet will help you better evaluate the factors influencing the cost/benefit relationship for second generation European corn borer treatments. Average values are suggested in the
worksheet but may be modified for local conditions.
Extension Entomologist
South Central REC
Tom Hunt
Extension Entomologist
Making forage from soybeans can optimize crop options
Soybeans stunted by lack of rain or damaged by hail can be salvaged as hay or silage. When
made right, soybean hay and silage have characteristics for harvest and feeding similar to alfalfa.
Since soybean stems tend to be coarser than alfalfa stems, grinding often helps increase
consumption and reduces refusal of stems in the feedbunk or hay rack by cattle.
Extension Forage Specialist
Yellow soybeans? Check for nodules
Irrigated soybeans in south central Nebraska generally are looking good. The interrow spaces are closed or will soon close. Vibrant dark green colors predominate. These colors may not persist, however, if some of the fields at the research farm are any indication. We have several fields where the plants still look normal but there are few if any nodules. We speculate that the abnormally dry soil in the spring reduced the effectiveness of the liquid inoculant we used. Normal nodule counts this time of year should average 20 or more per plant. Our numbers are considerably less than 10 nodules per plant.
Options for nitrogen deficient soybeans due to nodulation failure
Extension Cropping Systems Specialist
South Central REC
NU South Central REC field day to spotlight
latest research, impact of new technologies
|
"Research at the Center is responding to a number of issues faced by today's ag industry," said Alan Baquet, SCREC district director. "It is evaluating the impact of new technologies on both the profitability and environmental sustainability of farming operations and providing key, non-biased information with which farmers can make sound management decisions."
"Previous research on irrigation scheduling techniques, and pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer management has impacted many farms in south central Nebraska," he said.
Research and demonstration topics and presenters are:
For more information contact Kim Peterson, Emily Kauk or Ellie Watts at the South Central REC at (402) 762-3535.
