Aerial drone application technology has recently become available and may address limitations by providing greater agility to monitor and apply under conditions where obstacles and poor field conditions limit current pesticide application equipment. As aerial drones are more readily available, there is a great opportunity to develop research-based best practices and training for this new technology. In addition, changes in climate continue to affect the survival, distribution and aggressiveness of soybean pathogens. The goal of this research is to 1) determine the feasibility of fungicide application via drones as sustainable disease management tool; 2) continue to evaluate new and current fungicide products for efficacy and timing on management of foliar disease in soybean and protection of yield; and 3) to continue proactive monitoring to understand the distribution of soybean foliar diseases and fungicide resistance in Indiana that protect soybean yield and seed quality.

1. Determine the feasibility of aerial drone application for disease management in soybean in replicated field-scale research trials.
2. Evaluate new and current fungicide products for efficacy and timing on management of foliar disease in soybean and protection of yield.
3. Continue to identify, document, and confirm the distribution of soybean diseases and evaluate for baseline sensitivities and/or development of fungicide resistance.
4. Develop Extension materials and programs on foliar disease management in soybean.

- Inclusion of trial results in the annual Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology for Indiana Extension publication.
- Drone efficacy data from multiple years will be combined for peer-reviewed publication on drone use for foliar diseases in Indiana.
- A corresponding Extension publication(s) and outreach on drone use for fungicide application in Indiana soybean will be created.
- Fungicide efficacy data from multiple years will be combined for peer-reviewed publication on fungicide efficacy for management of foliar diseases in Indiana.
- A corresponding Extension publication for foliar disease management in Indiana soybean will be created from the peer-reviewed publication.
- Fungicide resistance survey data from multiple years of sampling will be combined in a peer-reviewed publication detailing the findings pertaining to fungicide resistance in frogeye leaf spot in Indiana.
- A corresponding Extension publication detailing the risk of fungicide resistance in Indiana and alternative disease management options will be created.
- Education of a graduate student in applied plant pathology and agronomic crop production.
- Research plots will be available in-season for field days and other educational opportunities.
- Results of research will be presented at Indiana soybean stakeholder meetings.
- Results will be shared on Purdue Field Crop Pathology Extension website and in-season updates will be presented in a blog or Extension articles.

Update:

View uploaded report

Soybean foliar diseases can be a serious threat to profitability in environmentally favorable years for disease. The goals of this research are to continue to demonstrate optimum disease management programs and the opportunities that aerial drone applications will offer to Indiana by sharing results and developing Extension and outreach materials about their safe and effective use. And to continue to understand the distribution of foliar diseases and fungicide resistance in Indiana.

We aim to increase understanding of how aerial drone application technology can be utilized in Indiana soybean. And in addition, continue to improve the understanding of foliar disease risk to soybean yield and grain quality and implementation of sustainable and economical disease management tools.