Although SCN is a serious soybean pest, it can be managed profitably. Crop rotation coupled with SCN-resistant varieties are the cornerstones for the management of SCN. Non-host crops, such as corn, sorghum, sunflower, and alfalfa can reduce SCN population densities each year they are grown.
Providing a plant the best possible growing conditions will reduce stress and yield losses due to SCN. Maintain optimum soil fertility to optimize plant growth and development. Weed control not only reduces plant stress, but some weeds act alternative hosts for SCN. Disease and insect control maintains plant health and minimizes damage due to SCN.
The number of SCN in a field can be greatly reduced through proper management, but it is impossible to eliminate SCN from your field once it has become established. Therefore you must choose appropriate management practices so that you can continue profitable soybean production.
Management recommendations based on soil test results
Year 1 - SCN-resistant soybean with PI88788 source of resistance
Year 2 - Nonhost crop (such as corn, oats, alfalfa)
Year 3 - SCN-resistant variety different than the one planted in Year 1.
Year 4 - Nonhost crop (such as corn, oats, alfalfa)
Year 5 - SCN-resistant variety different than the ones planted in Year 1 and Year 3, or susceptible soybean.
Growers concerned about this possibility can prolong the effectiveness of a single source of SCN resistance by growing a susceptible (non-resistant) variety when SCN numbers are low. But SCN causes much greater damage and seems to reproduce at a greater rate in hot, dry growing seasons than in years with adequate to excess rainfall. So if a severe drought is anticipated, growers might opt not to grow a SCN-susceptible variety in an SCN-infested field, even if SCN population densities are low.
Year 6 - Non-host crop (such as corn, oats, alfalfa)
Web resources for SCN-resistant soybean varieties»
An excellent reference is the Soybean Cyst Nematode Management Guide originally published by the SCN Coalition and recently updated and reissued by the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP).
The fifth edition is available to read or print in pdf format»