Digging Deeper to Save Yield

Every year, soybean producers in the Midsouth must contend with several species of nematode pests. 

According to Mississippi State University Extension, during the 2016 growing season Midsouth farmers lost $212 million due to Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and Root knot nematode (RKN).

Nematodes cause little visual damage to the above ground plant, making it important for farmers to dig deeper to find these pests. Soil sampling is one of the best ways to detect nematodes and start developing a management plan to stop yield loss. 

Generally, the best time to sample a field is around harvest when nematode populations will be highest. According to MSU Extension, samples should be collected from areas where the field looks healthy as well as low areas in the field or where the plants are exhibiting nutritional deficiency. 

To collect the best soil sample, farmers should collect 10-15 soil samples from healthy parts of the field. Then they should replicate the process with 10-15 samples from bad areas of the field. Farmers should ensure the samples collected of both the good and bad areas are evenly spaced out across a sizeable portion of the field to get the best representation of the field.

Once gathered, place the samples from the healthy and bad areas in separate zip lock bags and label them to be sent for testing. Nematodes can die from overheating or freezing so it’s important to place the samples in a cool place when transporting.

Mississippi soybean producers may submit soil samples for nematode analysis to the Mississippi State University Extension Plant Pathology Lab. Sampling for nematodes should be considered as important as sampling for soil fertility. Being aware of what is under the soil can help farmers develop a management plan and reduce next year’s yield loss.