Channel Field Check Up Series: Study evaluates ROI of soybean production inputs

This year’s U.S. Department of Agriculture planting intention surveys indicate that many farmers are swapping corn acres for soybean acres to take advantage of the lower costs of soybean production. But even with that management strategy, many farmers will continue to look for ways to boost soybean yield potential.

Fortunately, Bayer conducted a research trial in 2019-2021 that evaluated soybean planting rates and fungicide applications to help farmers determine the input combination that best supports both yield potential and profitability.

The study evaluated revenue generated with a fungicide applied at the R3 growth stage on a low population of 120,000 seeds per acre versus a high population of 160,000 seeds per acre.

Typically, across populations over the three years of research, fungicide applications provided an average yield increase of over 5 bushels per acre and delivered an additional profit of $41.47 per acre.

At the conclusion of the study, researchers found the most profitable configuration was a fungicide application at the R3 growth stage with a soybean planting rate of 120,000 seeds per acre.

Without a fungicide application, a seeding rate of 160,000 seeds per acre was required for maximum yield and profitability potential. This rate provided $42.60 less revenue per acre than the 120,000 seeds per acre rate with a fungicide application.

Overall, a fungicide application helped reduce disease development by approximately 20% based on general disease ratings.

As many soybean fields are at or past the R1 growth stage in Illinois, farmers can consider these tips to enhance yield potential moving later into the summer:

• Prioritize fungicide applications on those fields most prone to disease outbreak and greatest ROI potential — early planted, historical issues, product agronomic concerns and so on.

• The R3 growth stage is when one of the four uppermost nodes contains a 3/16-inch-long pod and is typically optimum timing for a fungicide application on our Illinois soybean crop.

This soybean research was conducted at the Crop Science division of Bayer FOCUS sites in Illinois counties Kendall, Woodford, McLean and Macon from 2019-2021. The study included 32 soybean products from 2.2 to 3.9 maturity groups and were planted with different products used at different locations and replicated four times.

All seed was treated with Acceleron® Seed Applied Solutions STANDARD and ILeVO® seed treatment. Fungicides were applied at the R3 growth stage.

Farmers can review this study, published in the Channel 2021 Field Research Book, at Channel.com.

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