Steve D. Ruhl, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent
To evaluate the effect of using a seed treatment (Bean Guard) on yield of no-till soybeans.
| Cooperator: | Morrow County | Soil Test: | pH 7.0, P 44 ppm, K 90 ppm |
| Commissioners | Fertilizer: | None | |
| County: | Morrow | Planting Date: | May 3 |
| Nearest Town: | Mt. Gilead | Planting Rate: | 204,750 seeds/A |
| Drainage: | Random Tiled | Row Width: | 10-inch |
| Soil Type: | Centerburg silt loam | Harvest Date: | October 10, 2001 |
| Tillage: | No-till | Herbicides: | |
| Previous Crop: | Soybeans | POST | Roundup Ultra (1 qt/A) |
| Variety: | Midwest Genetics 3525RR | plus AMS |
Bean Guard is a fungicide seed treatment that can be applied at planting. It is a combination of Vitavax and Captan. Bean Guard is a systemic and contact fungicide for protection for soybean seeds and seedlings against damping off, seed decay, and seeding blights.
Bean Guard was applied as a planter box treatment at the rate of 2 ounces per 60 pounds of seed, and the other treatment was untreated. The treatments were replicated six times in a complete randomized block design. Individual plot size was approximately 1/2 acre. The beans were planted in 30-foot strips, and a 20-foot wide strip was harvested and weighed using a weigh wagon. The final population was calculated by counting the soybean plants in 1/1,000 of one acre between two rows in each individual treatment.
| Table 1. Soybean Population and Yield. | ||
| Treatment | Population (plants/A) |
Yield (bu/A) |
| Bean Guard | 193,000 | 50.3 |
| No seed treatment | 190,833 | 50.0 |
| LSD (0.05) | NS | NS |
| F | <1 | <1 |
| CV (%) | 6.1 | 3.2 |
Ideal conditions existed for planting and for eight days after planting. Conditions from May 11 through the end of May were extremely wet and cool. A total of 5.88 inches of rain was received for the 30-day period following planting. Rain was received on 16 out of the 30 days. We were extremely surprised by the great stand at harvest for both the treated and untreated plots. There was no benefit of seed treatment this year in this field. Numerous fields in the county had to be replanted as the original planting date approached May 11. Seed treatment on those soybeans may have been beneficial. Seed treatment should be considered as insurance in the establishment of a good stand. The eight days of ideal weather and soil conditions immediately after planting apparently saved the stand this year in this field.
The author would like to thank Bush Farms and Midwest Genetics for donating the seed and Royster Clark for providing the seed treatment. Also, thanks are extended to the Morrow County Commissioners, SWCD, Dan Barker, and Tom Weiler for their cooperation with this project.
For additional information, contact:
Steve Ruhl
Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County
871 W. Marion Rd., Suite 102
Mt. Gilead, OH 43338
419-947-1070
ruhl1@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu