Comparison of Two Soil Sampling Methods for Estimating Population Densities of Heterodera glycines Cysts

Abstract

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a significant economic pest of soybean in Ohio and the Midwest, in which yield losses are directly linked to the population density and distribution of cysts within a field. Advances in automation technology have been used to expedite soil fertility sampling for large-scale and high-density field maps. In this study, we explored the use of this technology as an option for sampling for SCN. There was a significant positive correlation for the number of SCN cysts between soil samples collected with an Automated Precision Soil Sampler and those collected using the traditional soil sampling method from three separate fields (P < 0.05, r values of 0.79 to 0.93). These results suggest that expedited soil sampling in fields with high population densities could be an added benefit for soybean farmers to encourage more sampling for SCN to monitor population levels as part of their overall management program. Accepted for publication 18 July 2016. Published 12 August 2016.