A full-season commercial soybean variety with good yield potential representative of what’s typically grown in Maryland and will be purchased for use in all trials across all site locations. A soybean variety with a medium rating for frogeye leaf spot and other foliar diseases will be chosen. Seed will be direct seeded into soybean residue on two site locations (Western MD Research & Education Center in Keedysville, MD and the Wye Research & Education Center in Queenstown,
MD). Plots will be drilled on 7.5 inch rows, 10 feet wide by 30 feet long, arranged in a randomized complete block design. Fertility and crop management (weeds and insects) will be managed in accordance with extension guidelines. Stand counts will be conducted approximately two weeks after planting to assess emergence. Fungicides for the trial will be submitted by chemical companies for testing for a fee. Fees will be used to offset costs and sustain the program for future years of research. Some products may also be purchased and used as checks in the test. All fungicides will be applied per the maximum label rate per label instructions. Fungicides will be applied with a CO2 backpack sprayer. Foliar disease ratings will be assessed prior to treatment application and ratings will continue biweekly until soybeans reach maturity. NDVI ratings will also be collected to determine any “greening” effect of the treatments. Green stem ratings will be collected at R8. Disease, NDVI, and green stem ratings will be compared statistically. Disease ratings will be used over time to compare and track any changes in pathogen resistance to specific active ingredients. Plots will be harvested with a small plot combine at maturity. Yields for each plot will be calculated and a statistical analysis will be done to compare treatment yields to determine if there’s any treatment effect. Yield and treatment cost will be used to calculate and compare possible economic benefits of fungicides on full season soybeans.

1. Evaluate the efficacy of approximately 10 foliar fungicides on full season soybeans grown on two research farms in Maryland by measuring foliar disease incidence and severity
2. Determine any greening or green stem effects of the fungicides
3. Monitor fungicide active ingredient efficacy over time and identify any fungicide insensitive foliar fungal pathogens
4. Determine the yield impact of foliar fungicides and their economic impact.

Data from this study will be published in extension publications and/or peer-reviewed crop production journals. Data will also be presented to growers at regional and statewide meetings and newsletters on an annual basis so that growers can view the most recent fungicide data for soybeans.

Update:
Soybean plots have been planted at both Wye REC (Queenstown, MD) and WMREC (Keedysville, MD). Significant rainfall and poor field conditions delayed the Wye REC planting dates. Planting dates were as follows: April 26 (WMREC) and May 18 (Wye REC). As of this report, the soybeans at WMREC are at R3 and the plots at Wye REC are at R2.

All products have been sourced form chemical companies and will be applied at R3 using a CO2 backpack sprayer. The treatments in this test include: nontreated control, Lucento at R3, Revytek at R3, Headline at R3, Miravis Top at R3, Revyteck at R3 + second application 14 days after, and Miravis Top at R3 + second application 14 days after. All applications are a labeled rates per manufacturers specifications.

Disease ratings will be conducted after fungicide application, along with NDVI (plant greenness) and green stem data. Plots will be harvested at maturity and yield data collected.

Statistical methods will be used to compare disease severity/incidence, NDVI, green stem, and yield between treatments.

Update:

View uploaded report

Please see attached file.

Fungicides are becoming increasingly popular in full season soybean production. Land grant institutions across the US and in surrounding states have robust applied research programs where industry ag chemical companies submit new products and formulations for testing for the management of soybean diseases; such a project has been absent in Maryland for several years, creating a dearth in knowledge of fungicide efficacy for our soybean producers in Maryland. This project will provide data that soybean producers would benefit from, such as: fungicide efficacy for managing common fungal diseases of soybean, monitor fungicide resistant pest populations, and track the economic impact of foliar fungicide applications over multiple years and environments unique to Maryland.