Soybean cyst nematode is the number one robber of soybean yield in fields across Ontario. In many instances, growers don’t realize the pest is impacting yield because the damage is done underground as parasitic nematodes feed and reproduce on soybean roots and interfere with the plant’s uptake of water and nutrients.
On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Soybean School, Syngenta seedcare technical lead Abhi Deora looks at the range of management tools growers have to tackle the pest, including the genetic defence provided by the PI 88788 and PI 548402 resistance genes and the need to rotate the two sources to protect them from growing resistance to SCN.
Deora discusses the role crop rotation plays in SCN defense strategy and how non-host crops such as corn and wheat can help prevent the pest from setting up shop in growers’ fields. He also explains how nematicides work to provide early-season protection for roots against nematode infection.
The critical first-step in nematode defense, however, is soil testing to determine whether the pest is present in the field. Deora notes that SCN populations tend to be higher closer to harvest, making the weeks prior to combining the best time to test for the pest.
When determining where to sample, Deora says growers should test areas of the field where they typically observe yield drag, low-lying areas where water tends to stagnate, field entrances and around fences. In the video he recommends collecting samples at a depth of six to eight inches at a 45 degree angles to collect more roots that could be playing host to nematodes. Watch below.
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