Soybean Yield and Heterodera glycines Population Dynamics as Affected by Cultural Practices in Major Production Areas of the United States and Canada

Authors: ATIBALENTJA, NDEME - UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS; Noel, Gregory; Donald, Patricia; MELAKEBERHAN, HADDISH - MICHIGAN ST UNIVERSITY; CHEN, SENYU - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA; FAGHIHI, JAMAL - PURDUE UNIVERSITY; GRAU, CRAIG - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN; MCGUIDWIN, AN - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN; NIBLACK, TERRY - UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS; RIGGS, ROBERT - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; STEINSTRA, WARD - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA; TYLKA, GREGORY - IOWA ST UNIVERSITY; WELACKY, THOMAS - AGRL AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the most yield limiting pest or disease of soybean in the United States and Canada. How narrow row planting of soybean and no-tillage production farming affect soybean cyst nematode numbers and yield of soybean are not well understood. Since the early 1990’s farmers, particularly in the Midwest and southern Canada, have increasingly adopted no-tillage soybean and corn production. In the largest project of its kind ever undertaken, the research done in this study evaluated planting of SCN-resistant and -susceptible cultivars, narrow, medium and wide row spacing, two corn and soybean rotations, and conventional and no-tillage production of soybean on population dynamics of SCN and yield of soybean. The results of this study demonstrated that neither no-tillage production nor planting soybean in narrow or medium rows had any consistent effect on reproduction of SCN when compared with conventional tillage or planting in wide rows. The resistant soybean cultivar generally supported less reproduction of soybean cyst nematode and provided a yield advantage. This study demonstrated that soybean farmers can plant in narrow rows and adopt no-tillage production or use conventional tillage practices and not be concerned that either row spacing or tillage system will lead to larger numbers of (SCN) or decreases in yield due to the nematode. This research is of interest to all scientists in soybean production or pathology.

Technical Abstract: Little information is available on the interactive effects of tillage and row spacing on yield of soybean and population dynamics of H. glycines. This study investigated the effects of rotation of soybean and corn, tillage, row spacing, and cultivar on yield of soybean and population dynamics of H. glycines at nine locations in the U.S. and Canada from 1997 to 2000. The experiments at each location involved two rotations: soybean-corn-soybean-corn and corn-soybean-corn-soybean; two tillage methods: no-tillage and conventional tillage; three row spacings: narrow (18-20 cm), medium (38-46 cm), or wide (76-92 cm); and two soybean cultivars, either resistant (PI88788 source) or susceptible to H. glycines, both adapted to the location. Soybean yields were higher in narrow and medium rows compared with wide rows in seven of nine locations. Tillage method also had a significant effect on yield in seven of nine locations. Increased yield due to planting of a resistant cultivar was the only factor that occurred at all locations. Reproduction of H. glycines was affected by tillage method in four of nine locations, and by row spacing in three locations. Reproduction was lower on resistant cultivars at all locations. The results demonstrated that neither no-tillage production nor planting soybean in narrow or medium rows consistently increased reproduction of H. glycines when compared with conventional tillage or planting in wide rows.