Soybean sudden death syndrome is an important disease of soybean in Kansas, resulting in millions of dollars of economic loss annually. Together, the objectives proposed in this study will help producers better manage this disease on their farms through better through recommendations for cropping system adjustments (nutrient management), seed treatment selection, and through a warning system that signals risk. Our proposed field trials will be used as “living classrooms” through in-field extension events. This work is synergistic with several ongoing projects in the lab of Dr. Onofre. This project will provide broad, practical training for one PhD student (Madison Kessler).

Objective 1: Evaluate the influence of at-planting phosphorus application on soybean sudden death syndrome.
Objective 2: Evaluate the influence of seed treatments on soybean sudden death syndrome.
Objective 3: Validate a sudden death syndrome prediction tool for estimating disease risk before planting.
Objective 4: Generate and promote data-driven best management practices based on results of objectives 1, 2 and 3.

Through the work described in this proposal we will generate a better understanding of how Phosphorus is contributing to SDS risk. These results may lead to updated Phosphorus recommendations for soybean producers in Kansas who are at risk for SDS. In addition, we aim to establish the infrastructure to test new and emerging products for SDS management to provide unbiased data back to producers to help inform product selection. Through a previously funded project through the Kansas Soybean Commission, we have developed a model based on pre-planting soil temperature that very accurately predicts SDS risk. In this project we aim to fine-tune that model and validate it in producer fields. By the end of this project, we hope to have a model that producers can use to assess risk at planting time. We will continue to build on previous work to develop best management practices to maximize yield for Kansas soybean producers. Finally, we will communicate these results back to Kansas soybean growers, crop agents, and the ag industry through dynamic extension programming.

Updated July 14, 2025:
Project is current under progress. PI Onofre planted field trials in two locations in Kansas (Topeka and Rossville, Kansas). Fields days are scheduled and preliminary data will be presented.

Results will be ready available to farmers to adopt at their operations.