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

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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.