P-309 - Evaluating the Efficacy and Economic Viability of Soybean Seed Treatments in Tandem with Integrated Pest Management Strategies

As of 2024, North Dakota’s soybean production has increased more than 70 times since the 1980s. This rise in production has also led to increased disease pressure. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies offer a comprehensive approach to managing pests through multiple methods. To improve the management of these diseases, we assessed the efficacy of various cultural and chemical IPM strategy combinations. In 2024, field trials were conducted at two NDSU Research Center locations. These trials evaluated four  seed treatment programs and were compared to a non-treated control. Seed treatments were assessed at early and late planting dates, as well as at two seeding rates. At each location, trials were arranged with four replications per treatment, utilizing a split-block design. It was observed that the early planting date root rot severity was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the late planting date when evaluated at the VC. Yet, when evaluated at the V2 growth stage, this significance inverts. As for yield, there were significant increases in production (P < 0.01) amongst the three-way interactions of planting date, seed treatment, and seeding rate. However, further years of replicated field trials are necessary to draw broad conclusions on the benefits of these IPM strategies in North Dakota.