2017
Evaluation of Fungicide Seed Treatments
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Maryland Soybean Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Crop protectionDiseaseField management
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Andrew Kness, University of Maryland
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Maryland Soybean Board
$2,950
Institution Funded:
University of Maryland
$2,950
Brief Project Summary:

This multi-year project measures the effect of fungicide seed treatments on soybean emergence, stand, fungal disease, test weight and yield to determine if fungicide seed treatments are worth the extra cost under typical production scenarios in Maryland and Delaware, even when fungal soilborne disease potential is low. Trials aim to determine the yield impact (if any) of fungicide seed treatments on soybean yield under standard management practices, the effects of fungicide seed treatments on soybean emergence and stands and if there are any economic benefits of fungicide seed treatments based on a yield response (if any) and the cost of the seed treatment (economic return).

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Update:
There was a significant treatment effect on relative emergence but no significant treatment effect on yield or test weight. The seed treatments Acceleron and Trilex had the greatest emergence with a relative emergence of 108% and 105%, respectively. ILeVO had the poorest emergence at 95.7% relative emergence across all locations. Fluopyram, the active ingredient in ILeVO, is known to stunt plants and potentially decrease germination under some conditions. There were no significant differences in yield between treatments. There was a significant treatment effect at two locations (Wye and UDREC) where fungicide seed treatments significantly decreased yield compared to the untreated control. At those locations, untreated controls yielded the highest and ILeVO the lowest.

As part of an economic analysis, we calculated net profit for each treatment based on planting population (150,000 seeds/acre), local market price for soybean ($9.10), retail prices for seed ($50.95/bag of 140,000 seeds), seed treatment (Acceleron=$19.20/bag, Trilex=$5.50/bag, ILeVO=$15.00/bag) and production costs, including variable and fixed costs. There was a significant treatment effect on net profit per acre. Untreated soybean seed returned the highest average profit per acre ($368.31) across all locations, statistically greater than all other treatments (P=0.0002). Seed treatment ILeVO returned the lowest net income, with an average across all locations of $193.29 per acre.

Data from first-year trials indicate that fungicide seed treatments may increase soybean emergence over untreated seed in low-pressure soilborne disease situations; however, this increase in emergence and stand did not translate into a statistically significant increase in yield when compared to untreated controls. Yields were also significantly lower in treated seed at two of the locations. In addition, fungicide seed treatments did not increase profitability; the added expense for treated seed coupled with no increase in yield resulted in an average loss of $136.50 per acre compared to untreated seed. Using fungicide seed treatments on soybeans may not provide any significant economic benefit when
planted in fields that are not conducive for soilborne disease development and/or that do not have a history of soilborne diseases. This is only the first year of a multi-year study; more data needs to be collected over multiple years and sites to improve the robustness of the dataset and to make sound production recommendations for growers in our region.

View uploaded report PDF file

Using fungicide seed treatments on soybeans may not provide any significant economic benefit when planted in fields where conditions are not likely to lead to development of soilborne diseases and/or that do not have a history of soilborne diseases. While fungicide seed treatments may increase soybean emergence over untreated seed, this increase in emergence did not translate into an increase in yield

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.