Update:
View uploaded report
Research conducted
All private company varieties that have been entered into the Langdon Research and Extension Center (REC), Carrington REC, Minot REC, Williston REC and Fargo Main Station yield trials were evaluated for visual IDC symptoms at multiple field locations with a past history of IDC symptoms. Also, advanced NDSU breeding lines were evaluated. Comparing soybean varieties from different companies requires that all varieties be evaluated in side by side comparisons in the same field. Otherwise, a fair comparison is not possible.
In 2018, four locations on farmer-cooperator fields with a past history of IDC symptoms had been identified and were later planted with hill-plots. Three of those four sites had to be abandoned due to either too much IDC symptoms or due to too much rainfall. We found another IDC site and planted that site in mid-June. There were 235 Roundup Ready® and Xtend® varieties tested and 60 Liberty Link and non-GMO company varieties tested. Also, the NDSU soybean breeder evaluated 120 advanced NDSU breeding lines for visual IDC symptoms. Those locations included Leonard, and Hunter, ND.
Why the research is important to ND soybean farmers
This is the largest data set with the most comparisons of many different company varieties, both Roundup Ready, Xtend, Liberty Link and non-GMO for North Dakota and western Minnesota. This data enables growers to increase their yield on IDC prone fields because those varieties with the least amount of yellow IDC symptoms will yield the best on those fields that have that problem.
Final findings of the research
Data was analyzed and reported in the NDSU bulletin entitled ‘North Dakota Soybean Performance’ and was posted online.
Benefits/Recommendations to North Dakota soybean farmers and industry
There are genetic differences among cultivars for tolerance to IDC. Choice of variety has been shown to be the most important factor to increase yield on fields where IDC is present. Even a small amount of yellowing in the soybean leaves can reduce final yield by twenty percent. For fields with IDC, visual yellowing has been shown to be closely correlated to yield. The benefit to the ND soybean farmer is that they can increase yield on their fields that have a past history of IDC by selecting varieties with good IDC visual ratings. The recommendation is to choose varieties with the desired herbicide-resistant traits, maturity, yield and IDC tolerance.