Integrated Management of White Mold in Soybean: Reducing Fungicide Applications Using UAV Technology

Commodities

• Agronomic: soybeans

Practices

• Crop Production: application rate management
• Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research, participatory research
• Pest Management: integrated pest management

We aim to quantify the best management strategies that
sustainably reduce white
mold's impact on soybeans in Pennsylvania. Participatory on-farm
field trials will
assess the benefits of selecting shorter maturity group soybean
varieties and using
biological seed treatments, which will be paired with unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV)
fungicide applications. Using UAVs to apply fungicides will
enable spot spraying of
white mold hot spots, reducing fungicide use and environmental
impact. UAV fungicide
application spray coverage will be compared with traditional
ground applications in
replicated strip trials. The use of UAV applications is
increasing, yet many questions
remain regarding their use and efficacy. Soybean growers across
Pennsylvania are
interested in testing these management strategies due to annual
yield losses from
white mold. Our farmer partners have expressed interest in
participating in these trials
using known white mold infested fields and drone technology. The
objectives are i) to
determine if a shorter soybean relative maturity group results in
lower white mold
severity, ii) to test the efficacy of a biological seed treatment
against white mold, and
iii) to determine if UAV-applied fungicides can effectively
minimize the amount of
chemical and number of applications needed to manage white mold.
Results from
these trials will be incorporated into extension talks and
handouts. We will conduct
soybean grower breakfast meetings to inform participants and
other local growers
about the results of the trials and inform them about more
sustainable management
strategies for managing white mold in soybeans.

1. To determine if a shorter soybean
   relative maturity group results in lower white mold
   severity.
2. Test the efficacy of biological
   soybean seed treatment compared to traditional
   fungicides. 
3. To determine if UAV-applied
   fungicides can effectively minimize the amount of chemicals and
   number of applications needed to manage white mold compared to
   current practices. 
4. To communicate results to our farmer
   partners and other local growers through grower meetings and
   extension materials. 

Hypotheses 

1. We hypothesize that the use of
   shorter maturity soybean varieties will decrease white mold
   disease incidence and severity. In a wet year, with conducive
   conditions that allow for high levels of white mold
   development, shorter maturity soybeans will have a short
   flowering period, reducing the infection window, thus leading
   to increased yield.
2. The Heads Up seed treatment will
   have a lower disease severity index than the untreated check,
   but the application of fungicide at R2 will outperform the seed
   treatment. Application timing is key in white mold management,
   and we hypothesize that the seed treatment will not sufficient
   residual activity compared to a well-timed fungicide
   application. 
3. Finally, drone application of
   fungicides will be more effective against white mold because
   the propellers help to push the product into the soybean canopy
   to protect flowers better. In particular, the DJI Agras T40
   should perform better because its nozzles produce finer
   droplets for better coverage.
4. The Esker Lab and Penn State Field
   and Forage crop team will present recent white mold disease
   management data at crop days and other extension meetings. We
   will provide growers with the best information on
   cultural, biological, and precision management to more
   sustainably manage white mold.