Use of Strobilurin Fungicide to Prevent Disease and Increase Yield in Soybean.

Use of Strobilurin Fungicide to Prevent Disease and Increase Yield in Soybean Evan B. Sonderegger, Timothy M. Shaver, James E. Specht, Charles S. Wortmann, and Greg R. Kruger Strobilurin fungicides prevent disease by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration in pathogenic fungi thus disrupting the energy cycle of the fungi. This class of fungicide also has a ‘stay green’ effect on plants. This comes from delayed leaf senescence and water conservation when strobilurins are applied. This increases the seed filling period and may result in higher yields. A field study was conducted in 2011 to determine the effects of row spacing, population, and strobilurin application at the West Central Research and Extension Center (WCREC) located in North Platte, NE and the West Central Water Research Field Laboratory (WCWRFL) located in Brule, NE. Three populations, 247,000, 432,000, 618,000 seeds ha-1 were planted in 19 and 38 cm rows and applications of strobilurin fungicide were applied at R1, R3, R5, R1+R3, R1+R5, R3+R5, and R1+R3+R5 using 877 g ae ha-1. A control with no strobilurin fungicide was also planted. Data was analyzed in SAS using proc glimmix. Both row spacing and population affected yield. Grain yield was increased by 4.5% in 19 cm rows compared to 38 cm rows. 432,000 seeds ha-1 had a 5.8% grain yield increase when compared to 247,000 seeds ha-1. Treatment eight (R1+R3+R5) had the highest grain yield with 5207 kg ha-1 at WCREC while treatment four (R1+R3) had the highest mean yield of 5904 kg ha-1 at WCWRFL. Application of strobilurin fungicide increased yields. Using a combination of management practices including row spacing and population along with strobilurin fungicide application will create an environment capable of producing higher yields.