Factors to Consider Before Using a Soybean Seed Treatment

By Kiersten Wise and Mandy Bish et.al

There are many seed treatments available to manage soybean pests, but most are only effective during the first few weeks after planting. In addition, there are many products and product combinations available, which can make it difficult to understand which treatments consistently provide a positive return on investment.

This publication describes the factors to consider when making soybean seed treatment decisions. This publication discusses three major types of seed treatments: fungicides, insecticides, and nematicides.

Fungicide Seed Treatments

Fungicide seed treatments can provide protection against two different types of pathogens: seedborne fungal pathogens (e.g., the Phomopsis seed decay fungus) and soilborne pathogens that infect seedlings and roots (e.g., Pythophthora spp., the sudden death syndrome (SDS) fungus, etc.). If you are considering a fungicide seed treatment, then it’s important to know that they are more likely to provide a benefit when:

• Fields that have a history of soybean seedling diseases, SDS, and/or red crown rot

• Planting into soils below 60°F (16°C)

• Planting into compacted soils

• Seeding  rates less than 140,000 seeds per acre

• Planting in no-till or reduced tillage systems, or fields with high levels of surface residue, such as cover crops

• Fields that have a history of flooded soils

• Seeds that have high levels of seedborne fungal infestation

• Fields that are in continuous (two or more years) soybean

• Varieties that are susceptible to diseases such as Phytophthora root and stem rot and SDS are planted