2022
Cover Crop Selection and Termination Implications for Slugs – Year 2
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Delaware Soybean Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Biotic stressCrop protectionField management Pest
Parent Project:
Cover Crop Selection and Termination Implications for Slugs
Lead Principal Investigator:
David Owens, University of Delaware
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
AGEXDA2206
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Delaware Soybean Board
$3,604
Institution Funded:
University of Delaware
$3,604
Brief Project Summary:

An annual survey consistently finds slugs among the top pests in Delaware. Farmers don’t have good thresholds for treatment and pressure is unpredictable. Slugs prefer cool, wet weather, and no-till fields with high residue and/or cover crops, but often by the time farmers realize they have a problem, emerging soybeans are severely damaged. Anecdotes suggest that slugs may favor brassica cover crops, and other research suggests delaying cover crop termination can help manage slugs. This multi-year study generates data about how adjustments to cover crop practices, like species choice and termination timing, may help manage slug populations over time.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Large field plots will be planted on two cooperator farms in the same location of the field in 2021 and 2022. At each location, 4 cover crops (rye, barley, crimson clover, tillage radish and winter rape, will be planted in October. Plots will be at least 50’ x 100’. In the spring, plots will be subdivided with half being terminated early and half terminated late along with vertical tillage. Four plots will be left bare ground as a no-cover control. Plots will be sampled in the fall for slug activity and then in the spring starting in early March. Sampling will consist of weekly inspection of 2 shingles and a square meter soil residue sample in the center of each plot until the cash crop has outgrown the potential for slug damage (V5 for corn, V1 for soybean). The cash crop will be rated for slug injury and stand loss.

Final Project Results

Updated February 2, 2023:

View uploaded report Word file

In year 1 of the project, different cover crop species were sown in large plots on cooperator farm fields. No significant slug populations were detected in the various species plots. Plots were re-seeded in Fall 2022 to see if populations will increase gradually overtime.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.