Common soybean blights like Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia cause reduced stand and economic losses for growers annually. All told, soybean seedling diseases cost growers nearly 6 million bushels in the U.S. in 2023.¹
Chances are, you’ve encountered some form of seedling disease in your soybean operation. Especially with soybean planting dates trending earlier, early-season disease prevention is key to staying ahead of the curve. Here are three steps you can take to help protect this year’s crop.
Scout and identify soybean blights correctly
Learning how to scout for soybean seedling blights is the first step to managing different pathogens effectively.
Scouting can be challenging since seedlings can be infected by multiple pathogens at once. Seedling blights such as Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia can often present similarly in soybeans, making accurate diagnosis tricky. But knowing which blight(s) you’re dealing with is important for proper management. Additionally, one of the symptoms of these soybean blights includes rapid seedling decomposition, making your window for scouting very short.
Improve soil drainage when possible
Soybean blights thrive in wet, cold, poorly drained soil — conditions typical for early spring planting. Soil structure and drainage improvements can promote a safer environment for soybean seedlings to grow without high disease risk.
Increasing soil organic matter with crop residue and cover crops as well as increasing drainage with tillage or tiling will help. Dense, slow-draining soil can lead to soil compaction, which will hinder soybean emergence, leaving seeds underground longer where they can quickly become infected with early soybean diseases.
Select a quality seed treatment
North Carolina State Extension research has found that seed treatments are the most consistent method of improving soybean stands and protecting emerging plants from soybean blights, especially early planted soybeans, which are more susceptible to rot and disease.²
Obvius® Plus seed treatment contains four different active ingredients and protects soybeans from an array of seedling diseases.
Experts are available to help you evaluate your soil conditions, disease risk, and input choices prior to planting. Reach out to your seed retailer, a nearby extension office agent, or a seed company professional like your regional BASF representative.
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Endnotes
- Sikora, Ed, et al. “Soybean Disease Loss Estimates from the United States and Ontario, Canada — 2023.” Crop Protection Network, 14 Mar. 2024, cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/soybean-disease-loss-estimates-from-the-united-states-and-ontario-canada-2023. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
- Carleo, Jenny. “Preventing Seedling Diseases in Early Planted Soybeans.” NC State Extension, 27 Apr. 2020, soybeans.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/04/preventing-seedling-diseases-in-early-planted-soybeans/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
