By Blake Jackson
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) has been confirmed in at least one field across 12 counties in Pennsylvania, according to Adriana Murillo-Williams, Extension Educator, and Paul D. Esker, Professor of Epidemiology at Penn State Extension.
SCN is recognized as the most damaging soybean pathogen in the United States and Canada and can cause yield losses of up to 50%.
One of the major challenges with SCN is that it often goes undetected for years, even in fields that appear healthy. Because of this, experts strongly recommend a proactive management approach that includes regular soil testing and field scouting rather than waiting for visible symptoms.
SCN can survive in soil for many years without a soybean host. It spreads mainly through movement of contaminated soil and infected plant roots carrying cysts and eggs.
Farmers can detect SCN through two primary methods: scouting and soil testing. Scouting should be done about six weeks after planting by carefully digging up soybean roots and checking for small white, lemon-shaped cysts visible to the naked eye.
Soil testing provides more precise information about SCN levels. Samples should be collected at a depth of 6-8 inches in a zig-zag pattern, with at least 20 soil cores taken for fields up to 20 acres.
High-risk areas such as field edges, low-yield zones, and equipment storage areas should also be sampled. The cores should be mixed thoroughly, and at least two pints of soil submitted in a sealed bag. Samples should be kept cool but not frozen until delivered to a lab.
Penn State Extension’s Agronomy Team offers free SCN testing for soybean growers in Pennsylvania, supported by the Pennsylvania Soybean Board. Samples must be clearly labeled and sent to the designated laboratory at Penn State University Park for analysis.
For more information, contact Adriana Murillo-Williams at axm1119@psu.edu or phone 814-359-7483.
Photo Credit: istock-urpspoteko
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Soybeans