HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Poag, P. S. Articles by Boger, C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Poag, P. S. Articles by Boger, C. Agricola Articles by Poag, P. S. Articles by Boger, C. Related Collections Soybean Economics Seed Establishment Seed Treatment Seed Quality

Economic Analysis

Economic Evaluation of Soybean Fungicide Seed Treatments

^a Dep. of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, 217 Agriculture Building, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701
^b Dep. of Plant Pathology, 217 Plant Science Building, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701

^* Corresponding author (mpopp{at}uark.edu)

Received for publication April 1, 2005. The effects of fungicide seed treatments on seeding rate, location, simulated rainfall at emergence, time of planting, and seed quality were analyzed for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in this study. Variation in plant emergence allowed estimation of economically optimal seeding rates and partial returns (PR = Gross revenue – Seed cost) across seed treatment options. Study results proved a single seed treatment to be superior across most study conditions. In fact, a comparison of optimally treated to untreated seed revealed that a seemingly insignificant input in terms of cost (<$8.65 ha^–1) enhanced profitability by an average of $43.71 ha^–1 in this study. Using high rather than low quality treated seed increased producer returns by an average of $64.27 ha^–1. Seeding rate recommendations need to be viewed with the precaution that added seed may be low cost insurance against lesser-than-expected survival rates. For the cultivar Hutcheson (MG V), planting in May compared with April and June provided better yields using less seed on average. Finally, as the planting season progressed, replanting plant population density thresholds decreased.

Abbreviations: FL, artificial flood • LOC, location • PM, planting in April or June compared to May • PPD, plant population density 4 wk after planting • PR, partial returns • ROS, rate of survival of a seed until 4 wk past planting • SQ, seed quality • ST, seed treatment • YR, experimental trial year