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Summary

Nematodes in corn and soybean can be a significant limiting factor in production of these crops. Increased value of corn and soybean in recent seasons has increased interest in nematode management in these important crops. Studies have been initiated in Mitchell County to provide information to growers on the value of nematode management in these crops.

Situation

Nematodes continue to be a significant limiting factor in row crop production in Mitchell County. Recent increases in corn and soybean value has resulted in growers increasing planted acreage of corn and soybean or considering growing these crops. Soybean acreage in this county has increased from zero acreage planted in 2006 to over 8500 planted acres in 2009. Field corn acreage has more than doubled from the 2006 planting of 8,000 acres. Nematodes attacking soybean include all root-knot nematode species that occur in Mitchell County. In addition, soybean cyst and lesion nematode populations are increased by soybean production. Several nematode species are known to damage field corn. The most important is the southern root-knot nematode, which is also the most important nematode species affecting cotton in this county. Stubby root nematode, also found in our corn acreage, may affect field corn growth. Plant parasitic nematodes can cause significant losses in both corn and soybeans; however little work has been done in recent years to assess the true impact of these pests. Historically, growers have managed nematode on soybeans by planting resistant cultivars; corn growers have not had such an option. Because of the low value of corn and soybeans in the past, many growers have felt it impossible to manage plant parasitic nematodes in these crops using nematicides. Increased acreage of soybean and field corn also presents a challenge in management of plant parasitic nematodes in crop rotation with our major agronomic crops of cotton and peanut in this county. There is a clear and urgent need to provide growers in Mitchell County with un-biased research-based data that demonstrates a) the potential affect of nematodes on our corn and soybean crops and b) the economic value that can be achieved by effectively managing them.

Response

Through collaborative efforts with Dr. Bob Kemerait, UGA Extension Plant Pathologist, Dow AgroScience, Bayer Crop Science, and Syngenta Corporation, extensive studies have been established evaluating the performance of soil applied nematicides Temik®, Counter®, Telone II®, and Avicta Complete Corn® seed treatment for nematode control in corn. The work done in Mitchell County with Avicta Complete Corn, a novel seed treatment, is one of the first large, on-farm studies conducted anywhere in the country to assess the benefit of this product. Temik and Telone II nematicides are being evaluated for nematode control in soybean. Unlike field corn, many of our currently recommended varieties of soybean have resistance to certain nematodes, which offers an additional management tool for control of soybean nematode. Studies on soybean and field corn are on-going. Preliminary results on field corn indicate a positive response to soil applied nematicides and nematicide seed treatments in corn growth and yields over untreated controls in the trials.

Impact

This agent has participated in various nematode projects and surveys since 2002, providing education and service to Mitchell County growers in the area of nematode awareness. Past and continuing studies on cotton have demonstrated the importance of nematode control to the growers in Mitchell County. County nematode surveys have provided growers with information on identifying and monitoring nematode populations to choose effective nematode management tactics for each field. Further the nematode surveys and nematicide studies have provided growers with the tools to identify fields that cannot be planted profitably, or where a different crop has better profit potential; plan optimum crop rotations to minimize losses for following crops and reduce nematode populations; select appropriate resistant varieties; and recognize fields where nematicide use is profitable in corn, cotton, peanut and soybean. The current on-farm grower trials on field corn and soybean, which evaluate existing nematode management programs as they exist today, will provide growers with information to build confidence in nematode management and increased yields when using select nematicide management tools in these crops. Results from these studies have and will continue to be used in support of future nematode management programs for not only Mitchell County, but throughout Georgia. According to Dr. Kemerait, data collected in Mitchell County field trials will provide crucial information for all corn and soybean growers in Georgia and the southeastern United States in 2010.

State Issue

Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability

Details

  • Year: 2009
  • Geographic Scope: State
  • County: Mitchell
  • Program Areas:
    • Agriculture & Natural Resources

Author

  • Harrison, William Edd

Collaborator(s)

CAES Collaborator(s)

  • Kemerait, Robert C

Non-CAES Collaborator(s)

  • Dow AgroSciences, Bayer Crop Science, Syngenta Crop Protection
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Extension Impact