Pest Management Studies

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Soybean Farm Research Pest/Disease Management Studies

Farm Research studies in this section include: Disease/Fungicide/Nematode studies, Insect/Insecticide studies, and Weed/Herbicide studies.  All studies are pdf documents and require Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download free.

Disease/Fungicide/Nematode Studies

Objective:  Determine the amount of soybean cyst nematode reproduction and soybean yield of various soybean cyst nematode resistant varieties.
Summary:  Please see the study to view the detailed summaries from each producer's field.

Objective:  Determine the profitability of growing soybeans with and without seed treatment fungicides.
Summary:  Seed yield was not affected by fungicide treatments in 2003; however plant population was higher where ApronMaxx was applied. In 2004, fungicide treatments did not affect seed yield in either study and the effect on population was variable.

Objective:  Determine the profitability of Phytophthora management treatments on soybeans.
Summary:  Soybean populations were reduced with the addition of Ridomil seed treatment, but the Ridomil treatment significantly outyielded the untreated check at the 99% confidence level.

Objective: Determine the profitability of applying a foliar fungicide to soybeans in the absence of disease.
Summary: (Chvatal) The application of Stratego had no effect on soybean yield in 2008 on soybeans which were hailed on June 27 which caused 30-40% damage. In 2008, seed yields were not increased by the application of Quilt. Seed moisture at harvest was higher where fungicide was applied under no irrigation.
(Brandert) In 2007 seed yield and moisture at harvest were significantly increased by fungicide application. There were no visible differences until maturity. Headline beans remained green later in the season. Planting population was 150,000 seeds/acre in 30-inch rows.
(Stewart) The use of fungicides on soybeans had no effect on yield in 2005. In 2006, Quilt treated soybeans yielded slightly higher than Stratego treated soybeans; however, neither was significantly different than the non treated. In 2007 no treatment resulted in higher seed yield than the untreated check.
(Quad Co.) There is no clear association with yield increase due to strobilurin or combination fungicides and yield increase in soybeans in Nebraska. Headline fungicide did not significantly increase yields in five of the six plots located in South Central Nebraska. A yield increase of 4 bu/acre was necessary in order for profit to be realized.
(Kucera) Foliar fungicide treatment had no effect on growth or seed yield of soybeans in 2005. Headline was applied at beginning flower crop growth stage.
(Williams) 2009-2010 The foliar application of 6 oz/ac of Headline increased the seed yield of soybeans in 2009. In 2010, the application of 6 oz/ac Headline increased the seed yield and seed moisture at harvest of soybeans at both locations.

Objective:  Determine the profitability of using fungicide/Optimize treated seed in irrigated drilled (10") soybeans.
Summary:  Seed yield was increased significantly by using treated seed.

Objective:  Determine & document the effect of seed treatment on the profitability of producing soybeans.
Summary:  Fungicide seed treatment had no effect on seed yield or seed moisture at harvest in 2008. Seed yield and moisture at harvest was not affected by innoculation, fungicide, or insecticide treatments in 2009.

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Insects/Insecticide Studies

Objective:  Determine the profitability of treating vs. not treating soybean seed with Gaucho or CruiserMaxx.
Summary:  The use of Gaucho had no effect on the growth of soybeans in 2004. The use of CruiserMaxx treated seed resulted in significantly higher seed yield in 2005. There was low bean leaf beetle and aphid pressure in 2005. Plot widths in 2005 were 120 feet. In 2006, CruiserMaxx Pak treated seed had a higher yield than SoyGard treated seed.

Objective: To determine & document the influence of insecticide on the profitability of producing soybeans.
Summary: Soybean yields and seed moistures at harvest were not affected by treatment in these two studies.

Objective:  Determine the profitability of using Cruiser Maxx vs. Apron Max on Soybeans.
Summary:  There was no significant difference in seed yield due to treatment; however, seed moisture was higher from Cruiser-treated seed in 2005. Bean leaf beetle pressure in this field was low in 2005. In 2006, seed yield and moisture were not affected by treatment; however, bean leaf beetles and defoliation was lower on the CruiserMaxx treated soybeans. In 2007, seed yields and moisture at harvest were not affected by treatment. Treatment strips were 120 feet wide in 2007 and planting population was 150,000 seeds/acre.

Objective:  Determine the profitability of Cruiser Maxx on irrigated and dryland soybeans.
Summary:  The use of Cruiser Maxx resulted in increased yields in 2005 for both the non-irrigated and irrigated research sites. Seed moisture at harvest was lower for the non-irrigated Cruiser Maxx comparison, but higher for the irrigated comparison. No significant differences were detected for the plant populations or for the insect counts. In 2006, seed yield was increased by using Cruiser Maxx in the irrigated soybeans, but not for the non-irrigated sobyeans. The use of Cruiser Maxx resulted in higher plant population in the non-irrigated soybeans (counts not random in irrigated study) and increased early growth in the irrigated comparison. (Panning)  Treatment strips were 140 feet wide. In 2007 Cruiser Maxx increased seed yield and plant population significantly. Waterhemp pressure was in non-treated strips due to slower canopy closure. Low bean leaf beetle pressure in this field in 2007. In 2008 Cruiser Maxx again increased seed yield significantly.

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Weeds/Herbicide Studies

Objective:  Determine the profitability of various herbicide programs in soybean production.
Summary:  The use of Roundup alone post applied in 1998 resulted in the maximum yield at a cost that was less than the other treatments. There were no significant differences in seed yield due to herbicide treatment.  In 2000, seed yield was the same for all three herbicide treatments. Again, Roundup post applied was the most economical treatment. Seed moisture was slightly higher from the pre-emergence treatment.

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