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 in order to maximize chances of observing response to fungicide applications.
Seed will be direct seeded into soybean residue on three site locations (Western MD Research & Education Center in Keedysville, MD, Wye Research & Education Center in Queenstown, MD, and Central Maryland Research & Education Center in Ellicott City, 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. 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.
o 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 (plant greenness) 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.
o 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 research 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.
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.