It is important to test your soil for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) every year, even if your crop looks healthy. SCN can go unnoticed for many years, so it is important to be proactive in managing it.
SCN can be spread through the movement of soil and infected roots. This can happen through tractor tires, ag implements, wildlife, humans, and runoff. It is important to clean equipment and avoid spreading SCN from field to field.
There are two ways to determine if SCN is in a field: scouting and soil testing.
Scouting can be done six weeks after planting by digging out roots with a shovel and looking for SCN females. These are small, white, lemon-shaped structures along the roots. Nitrogen-fixing nodules can be easily distinguished from SCN females. They are larger, tan to brown, and when actively fixing nitrogen, they have a pink to red coloration when cut open.
Soil testing is another way to detect SCN and provides quantitative information about the population levels. Soil samples for SCN can be taken any time during the growing season if nematodes are suspected of affecting your crop.
Samples can be obtained by collecting soil cores at a depth of 6-8 inches in a zigzag pattern. While plants are actively growing in the field, take samples from within the row. We recommend collecting at least 20 cores for 20 acres or smaller areas.
Samples can also target areas of high risk of introduction, like field entryways, areas prone to flooding, fence lines, low-yielding areas, areas near buildings where equipment is stored, and high pH areas.
In a bucket, break, mix, and homogenize the soil cores and place at least 2 pints of soil in a sealable bag.
Keep the samples away from heat and direct sunlight and put them in a refrigerator (not the freezer) until they are submitted to the lab.
By testing your soil for SCN every year, you can help protect your crops from this destructive pest.
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Soybeans