Reducing Soybean Stress to Increase Yield

A. ABSTRACT – TECHNICAL We were working with a hypothesis that decreasing stress on soybeans will increase yield. In 2012, a very stressful year, we observed yield increases to lactofen (Cobra herbicide) applied early, and BioForge and an insecticide applied at beginning pod (R3) in studies. Lactofen induces stress while both BioForge and the insecticide are supposed to reduce stress. The time when soybeans reach R3 and later stages during the growing season is largely dependent on the maturity group of the soybean that is planted. Therefore, the yield benefits associated with both products are likely to vary based on maturity group. We would like to investigate how soybean maturity group interacts with various combinations of lactofen, Bioforge and Endigo. B. ABSTRACT – NON-TECHNICAL We were working with a hypothesis that decreasing stress on soybeans will increase yield. In 2012, a very stressful year, we observed yield increases to Cobra herbicide (lactofen) applied early, and BioForge and an insecticide applied at beginning pod (R3) in studies. Cobra induces stress while both BioForge and the insecticide are supposed to reduce stress. The time when soybeans reach R3 and later stages during the growing season is largely dependent on the maturity group of the soybean that is planted. Therefore, the yield benefits associated with both products are likely to vary based on maturity group. We would like to investigate how soybean maturity group interacts with various combinations of Cobra, BioForge and Endigo.