Comparison of Three Soybean Herbicide Tolerant Systems in Iowa and Minnesota

TRIAL OBJECTIVE

• This trial was designed to evaluate the benefits of three competitive soybean systems:
  • Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System 
  • LibertyLink® GT27™ System
  • Enlist™ Weed Control System with Enlist E3® Soybeans
• Field observations collected were:
  • Yield (bu/acre)
  • Weed control (%)

RESEARCH SITE DETAILS

• For each research location, three locally adapted soybean products were selected for each herbicide-tolerant system.
• The 10 ft x 200 ft plots were planted, sprayed, and harvested as strip trials.

UNDERSTANDING THE RESULTS

• Weed control at the time of both crop canopy (Figure 1) and harvest (Figures 2 and 3) was highest for the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System, then the Enlist™ Weed Control System, and lowest for the LibertyLink® GT27™ System.
• The Late POST application at Mapleton, MN did not substantially improve weed control in the LibertyLink® GT27™ System (Figures 1 and 2).
• The Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System produced the highest average yield at all locations, followed by the Enlist™ Weed Control System with Enlist E3® Soybeans; except at Manchester, IA where the LibertyLink® GT27™ System out-yielded the Enlist™ Weed Control System (Figure 4).

KEY LEARNINGS

•  Yield potential and weed control are two of the many factors to consider when deciding which soybean production system should be utilized on your farm.  
• Farmers should make sure that their pre-emergence and post-emergence weed management programs include overlapping residual products for an effective season long control.
• Herbicide application timing and the environment have significant effects on weed control. Farmers should always endeavor to apply when weeds are less than 4 inches tall for the most effective control.

1020_R2