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Purdue University
Agricultural Experiment Station
Lafayette, Indiana

Mimeo BP-91
August, 1955

INDIANA SOYBEAN DISEASE SURVEY 1955
by
Kirk L. Athow and A. H. Probst

A soybean disease survey trip was made through parts of eastern Indiana,
July 19 and 20, parts of southwestern Indiana, August 1 and 2, and parts of north-
western Indiana, August 3. The purpose was to observe the outlying nurseries at
Walkerton, Bluffton, Worthington and Evansville and to get a general picture of
the condition of soybeans throughout the state. Special attention was given to
the incidence and severity of diseases with regard to variety and location. Con-
siderable time was spent in looking over fields in eastern Indiana where root
diseases have become an increasing and sever problem.
A total of 62 stops was made, in 26 of the 92 counties in Indiana. The it op
locations are shown in Figure 1. Twenty-five of the fields examined were of the
variety Hawkeye, 11 Harosoy, 10 Clark, 8 Lincoln, 2 Wabash, 2 Perry and 1 each of
Bavender Special, Blackhawk, Chief and Kingwa. One field of Harosoy was inter-
planted between every other ''middle” with Blackhawk. The growth of both varieties
was good and this method of interplanting may be more successful than planting in
every "middle”.
The number of fields observed enroute by districts, (See Figure 1) planting
method and condition in regard to weediness and presence of corn is, as follows:

DISTRICT	FIELDS OBSERVED No.	METHOD OF ROWS No. %		PUNTING SOLID No.  %		CONDITION WEEDY No. %		OF FIELD VOLUNTEER No.	iCORN % 
1	175	173	99	2	1	32	18	8	5
2	248	236	95	12	5	20	8	14	6
3	127 	127	100	0	0	12	9	8	6
4	117	114	97	3	3	6	5	9	8
5 	215	169	78	46	32	8	4	0	0
6	11	4	?6	7	64	00	00	00	0
Total	893	823	92	70	8	78	9	39	4
Fields indicated as weedy, or with corn, were such that it is believed that the
weeds or corn would lower yields and would cause difficulty in combining. Weeds and
corn were both considerably less than observed in 1954 when the respective percentages
were 25 and 9 for the state. Solid plantings were increased considerably over the
recent past years in Districts 5 and 6, Much more soybean hay will be made in
these districts, due to clover and grass failures during the severe drought years
of 1953 and 1954.
Growth was especially good in Districts 3 and 4 and average in Districts 2,
5 and 6. There was much manganese deficiency in the eastern portions of Districts
2 and 4. Many fields had been sprayed to overcome the deficiency. There was consi-
derable double cropping in District 5, with soybeans following barley and early
wheat.