This project seeks to quantify the efficacy of applying peroxide-based products at first sign of disease for white mold management in soybeans. The use of peroxide-based fungicides as a tool for inhibiting the development of white mold has been adopted by some producers in our region, and the proposed study is designed to provide rigorous data to growers, agronomists, and crop advisors who have inquired about the efficacy and profitability of this management tool. Applications will be made to irrigated soybeans in Carrington and Oakes, ND using a tractor-based sprayer. At the Carrington location, an application via chemigation will also be tested. To ensure rigorous results, testing will be conducted on medium to large plots with a minimum of 6 to 8 experimental replicates. Applications via the tractor-based sprayer will be conducted with the commercial peroxide-based fungicide OxiDate 5.0 at various application rates, at 10 vs. 20 gal/ac, and with an adjuvant or the traditional fungicide Topsin (20 fl oz/ac). The chemigation treatment will be conducted with the peroxide-based product SaniDate 12. All treatments will be tested on soybeans that received no prior fungicides versus soybeans that received a preventative application of Endura (5.5 oz/ac) at the R2 growth stage. Within each fungicide background, peroxide-based treatments will be applied at the first appearance of soybeans wilting due to white mold lesions girdling the main stem. White mold incidence and severity, soybean yield, contamination of grain with sclerotia, and soybean market grade will be quantified. Soybean yield and market grade will be used to calculate profitability of treatments.

(1) Quantify the efficacy and profitability of peroxide-based fungicides, applied alone or with a traditional fungicide, at first sign of disease for white mold management in soybeans. (2) Quantify the impact of spray volume and product application rate on the efficacy and profitability of peroxide-based fungicides for white mold management in soybeans. (3) Assess the efficacy and profitability of peroxide-based products applied in conjunction with a standard preventative fungicide application at R2 versus as a stand-alone management tool for white mold. (4) Assess the efficacy of applying a peroxide-based fungicide via chemigation at first sign of disease for white mold management.

(1) Development of rigorous recommendations on the efficacy and profitability of peroxide-based fungicides for management of white mold in soybeans. (2) Dissemination of results to North Dakota soybean growers, crop advisors, and extension personnel.

Updated January 5, 2024:

View uploaded report

This project will improve the profitability of soybean production in fields where white mold is a problem by identifying profit-maximizing strategies to improve soybean agronomic performance and profitability under white mold disease pressure.