Causes and Developing Solutions on Outbreaks of Slugs in Soybeans

Grants and Contracts Details

Description

The presence of slug damages in soybean fields has been more noticeable during the past 20 years. Slug outbreaks were observed in Henderson Co., Kentucky in corn in 2016, and in 2017 approximately 150,000 acres of soybeans were replanted due to slug damage; this represent approximately 10% of the total acreage in KY and between 4.2 to 4.6 million dollars on seed expenditures for replanting. In this project we included a double crop system (wheat and soybeans) as we hypothesize that insecticide treatments of wheat seeds can have an impact on the abundance of slugs and reduction of ground beetles (natural enemies of slugs). In this project our objectives are to: (1) Evaluate the abundance of mollusks and ground beetles in fields using neonicotinoid treated and untreated wheat seeds, (2) Quantify abundance of mollusks and ground beetles in fields where neonicotinoid treated and untreated soybeans seeds were planted as a double crop following Objective 1, as well as to compare with long season soybean fields in commercial and experimental fields, (3) Conduct neonicotinoid residue analysis on wheat, soybeans, slugs and ground beetles, from the different treatments utilized on Objectives 1 and 2, (4) Validate field study results with laboratory bioassays for wheat and soybeans, and (5) Transfer all information generated in this study to end users through the use of digital, printed and extension conferences.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date4/1/183/31/19

Funding

  • Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board: $12,813.00

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