Integrated Crop Management News

Links to these articles are strongly encouraged. Articles may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If articles are used in any other manner, permission from the author is required.

Preemergence Herbicides, Dry Soils and Rain

‘Preemergence herbicides need rain to be effective’

The potential for continued dry weather across the state raises concerns about the impact of dry soils on preemergence herbicides. Preemergence herbicides kill weeds by being absorbed into the seed as the seed imbibes water. To be effective, the herbicide must be located within the soil profile at the depth where weed seeds germinate (primarily the upper inch of soil). In addition, there must be sufficient water to keep the herbicide dissolved in soil water. Both factors can be adversely affected by limited rain early in the season.

Best Management Practice for Spatial Layout of Field Trials

If you are planning on conducting field trials this growing season, how you set up the field trial can determine the accuracy of your yield data at harvest. To reap the full benefits of gathering yield data to improve crop management and influence input decisions, it should be part of your management plan year-round.

2020 Summary of Foliar Fungicide Applications on Corn in Iowa

This article summarizes 2020 corn foliar fungicide trials that were done at six locations in Iowa: ISU Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm (NWRF), Sutherland; Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm (NERF), Nashua; Northern Research and Demonstration Farm (NRF), Kanawha; Southwest Research and Demonstration Farm (SWRF), Lewis; Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm (SERF), Crawfordsville; and the Ag Engineering and Agronomy Farm (AEA) near Boone.

2020 Summary of Herbicide Evaluations for Marestail (Horseweed) Control in Soybean

Marestail infestation in a soybean field at the ISU Research and Demonstration Farm near Ames, IA in 2020.

Marestail is one of the most widespread and troublesome weeds in Iowa croplands. It can grow to a height of 1.5 to 6 feet, produce up to 200,000 seeds, and can reduce soybean yields up to 80% if not controlled (Figure 1). Marestail seeds are light and disperse across landscapes with winds. Seeds have little dormancy and can germinate soon after seed shed. In general, 75% of seedlings germinate in fall, remain in rosette-stage until spring, begin stem elongation in April, and start flowering in July. About 25% of seeds germinate in the spring.

ISU SCN-resistant Soybean Variety Trial Program results for 2020

Iowa State University has evaluated the nematode control and yield performance of soybean varieties that are resistant to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in hundreds of experiments conducted over nearly three decades. The results of the 2020 experiments are now available and are highlighted in this article.

Summary of 2020 Insecticide Evaluations for Soybean Pests

Each year, the ISU Soybean Research Laboratory conducts insecticide efficacy evaluations for soybean aphid, and two emerging pests, Japanese beetle and soybean gall midge, were added in 2019. Details about pest biology, research plot design, sampling methods, and additional results can be found here.

Soybean aphid

Herbicide Programs for Waterhemp Control in Soybean

Waterhemp is a dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) pigweed with a high genetic diversity. Consequently, this pigweed has a high propensity to adapt to control tactics and has evolved resistance to herbicides from as many as 6 or 7 different herbicide groups (HGs). Out of 75 waterhemp populations collected from corn/soybean fields in Iowa in fall 2019, almost 25% had a four-way multiple resistance to HGs 2 (ALS inhibitors), 5 (atrazine), 9 (glyphosate), and 14 (PPO inhibitors).

Soybean varieties with SCN resistance other than PI 88788

There are hundreds of soybean varieties with resistance against the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Most of the varieties available for Iowa in the last several decades have had resistance genes from a breeding line called PI 88788. SCN resistance from PI 88788 is losing or has lost its effectiveness. Farmers should grow soybean varieties with other sources of resistance, if possible. This article lists soybean varieties available for 2021 in Iowa with resistance sources that are different from PI 88788.

Statewide soybean foliar fungicide evaluation in 2020

table of soybean fungicide yield results

With support from the soybean checkoff through the United Soybean Board, Iowa State University researchers evaluated foliar fungicides on soybean in 2020. Because dry weather affected all seven field locations, this year was really an evaluation of fungicides largely in the absence of disease. Seventeen fungicides were tested at the R3 (beginning pod) growth stage, at the recommended label rate.

SCN-resistant Soybean Varieties for Iowa - By the Numbers

Resistant soybean varieties are critical for managing the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). There are nearly 850 SCN-resistant varieties in a newly updated publication from extension. Almost all of the varieties have the breeding line PI 88788 as the genetic source of resistance. Many SCN populations in Iowa now have high levels of reproduction on varieties with this resistance. Only 39 varieties in the new publication have resistance genetics from a source other than PI 88788. This article discusses the range of SCN-resistant varieties available and includes recommendations for using resistant varieties to manage SCN most effectively.

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