2024
Optimizing Fungicide Spray Volume for Improved White Mold Management in Soybeans
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
DiseaseField management Pest
Lead Principal Investigator:
Michael Wunsch, North Dakota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
NDSC 2024 Agr 26
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:
This project seeks to quantify fungicide spray volume impact on white mold in soybeans with the goal of minimizing application costs and maximizing profitability. Using fungicide spray volumes greater than 10 gal/ac is a widely recommended strategy for improving performance against white mold. Recent findings suggest that spray volume above 10 gal/ac may have little or no effect. This project seeks to identify the minimum spray volume needed to optimize fungicide performance for white mold management in soybeans. Field studies will be at two sites and on differing varieties to assess white mold control, yield response, and profitability of applying Endura and ProPulse at various volumes.
Key Beneficiaries:
#agronomists, #applicators, #farmers
Unique Keywords:
#agronomy, #fungicide, #soybean diseases, #white mold
Information And Results
Project Summary

This project seeks to quantify the impact of fungicide spray volume on white mold management in soybeans with the goal of minimizing application costs and maximizing the profitability of fungicides for management of white mold in soybeans. The use of fungicide spray volumes greater than 10 gal/ac is a widely recommended strategy for improving fungicide performance against white mold in soybeans. Research supporting that recommendation had been lacking, and recent findings suggest that increasing spray volume above 10 gal/ac may have little or no effect on white mold management. In research conducted in Brazil, increasing fungicide spray volume from 10.7 to 21.4 gal/ac had no impact on white mold management with either the fungicide Omega (registered in the U.S.) or the fungicide procymidone (not registered in the U.S.). In research conducted in North Dakota in 2020 and 2021, increasing fungicide spray volume from 10 to 25 gal/ac had no impact on white mold management or yield in pinto, black, dark-red kidney, light-red kidney, or navy beans. This project seeks to identify the minimum spray volume needed to optimize fungicide performance for white mold management in soybeans. Field studies will be established under irrigation in Carrington and Oakes, ND to assess white mold control, yield response, and profitability of applying fungicides at 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15 gal/ac. Testing will be conducted on varieties differing in architecture (upright versus bushy) with the widely utilized fungicide Endura (at 5.5 oz/ac) applied once versus twice sequentially.

Project Objectives

(1) Identify the minimum fungicide spray volume needed to maximize white mold control and soybean yield and quality. (2) Evaluate whether the impact of fungicide spray volume on white mold management differs for a single fungicide application versus two sequential applications. (3) Quantify the impact of soybean architecture (bushy versus upright) on the optimum fungicide spray volume for white mold management.

Project Deliverables

(1) Development of rigorous recommendations on the fungicide spray volume that optimizes white mold management, soybean yield, and soybean profitability under white mold pressure. (2) Dissemination of results to North Dakota soybean growers, crop advisors, and extension personnel

Progress Of Work

Updated January 5, 2024:

View uploaded report Word file

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

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

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.