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.
