A d v e r t i s e m e n t
Put Soybeans on the
Road to Higher Yields
S
oybeans often face uncertain growing
conditions during flowering, pod set and pod
fill—critical periods in the push for higher yields.
During these growth stages, productive yields
demand a vigorously growing crop that is performing at a high level. So it makes economic
sense to provide inputs that can give your crop
an edge during the critical reproductive periods.
There are various ways to achieve this goal.
Foliar fertilization can provide the crop with the
needed nutrients to function at a higher level,
along with soil fertility levels that are adequate
throughout the season.
A new tool in the drive for higher soybean
yields is Utilize, a 5-0-0 fertilizer that contains
GA 142*, a biotic extract and well-documented
physio-activator. Utilize has demonstrated in
field trials that it can improve plant performance
during the reproductive stage by increasing the
uptake and utilization of soil nutrients. This can
help offset unfavorable growing conditions at
critical reproductive growth stages for soybeans. Under good growing conditions, it can
push the crop to achieve even higher yields.
This process is explained by Dr. Greg Willoughby, Technical Services Manager for the
Northern Business Unit of Helena Chemical
Company.
“Utilize has a positive impact on polyamine
production,” he says. “Since polyamines affect
pollination, anything you can do to strengthen
that process should be beneficial to soybeans.”
Willoughby says that a critical period for indeterminate soybean varieties is when they are
flowering continuously for about 30 days.
“During this 30-day period, if you can affect
pollination by enhancing polyamine production,
it can have a positive impact on pod set. And
that can translate into higher yields.
“Combine that with improved pollination during flowering and you are
setting the plant up to perform at a
higher level.”
Dr. Greg Willoughby
“Utilize also increases chlorophyll production in soybeans by helping it use iron more
efficiently,” he adds. “The impact of that is
improved photosynthesis. Combine that with
improved pollination during flowering and you
are setting the plant up to perform at a higher
level.”
In the Southern U.S., Dr. Jason Alford, Technical Services Manager for Helena’s Southern
Business Unit, has worked directly with Utilize
on soybeans and also with other researchers
who worked with the product.
“In some trials, the treated soybean plants
were visibly larger than untreated sections,” he
says. “Researchers later confirmed our observations by weighing plants from the treated and
untreated plots. Plants treated with Utilize had
more biomass than untreated plants.”
Alford also noticed that soybeans treated
with Utilize were greener than untreated soybeans.
“We used a SPAD meter to measure chlorophyll content. It showed more chlorophyll
in the soybeans where Utilize had been
applied.”
Dr. Jason Alford
“We used a SPAD meter to measure chlorophyll content,” he notes. “It showed more chlorophyll in the soybeans where Utilize had been
applied. That means the plants were operating
at a higher efficiency level.”
Across 110 soybean trials over a three-year
period (2011-2013), these benefits translated
into higher yields in the majority of cases. The
average percentage increase was 6% and the
yield bump averaged 2.2 bu/a.
In all trials, Utilize was applied at a rate of 8
oz/a in the R3 growth stage. Per the label, Utilize can be applied to soybeans from R1 to R5,
a convenient application window when other
applications are typically being made. It’s important to note that the three years of
trials included the hot and dry growing season
of 2012. In addition, all trials were grown in a
high-yield environment with adequate fertility
and pest control. For more information on Utilize, contact
your local Helena dealer or Helena sales representative.
Utilize on Soybeans
110 Trials
6% Average
Yield Increase—
2.2 bu/a more
than Untreated
Soybeans
Utilize Looks Good
in Corn, Too!
Excellent results with Utilize have also been
demonstrated in corn trials across the Midwest
and in Southern corn growing regions.
Over a three-year period (2011-2013), 40
separate trials were conducted. In those trials,
corn treated with Utilize recorded an average of
4.7 bu/a more than untreated corn. That came
out to an average yield increase of 3%.
As with soybeans, the corn trials were
conducted under high-yield conditions with
adequate fertility and pest control.
“In addition to the yield data after harvest,
we have noticed during the season that some
of the treated corn plants looked bigger and
healthier,” says Alford. “As we neared harvest,
we could see that the ears were larger in length
and diameter, which explains the yield increases. Some of the treated corn also had ‘stay
green’ effect which indicated higher chlorophyll
production than untreated corn. When corn
stays greener at the end of the season, it has an
opportunity to fill out the ears more completely.”
Willoughby says the visual greening effect
with Utilize indicates better utilization of iron,
which enhances chlorophyll production and
photosynthesis.
“With a stronger, greener plant fueled by
higher photosynthesis, pollination can be more
complete,” he says. “This helps the plant maximize seed set while helping the plant produce
more proteins and sugars that provide it more
energy. All of these factors can contribute to
higher corn yields.” Utilize on Corn
40 Trials
3% Average
Yield Increase—
4.7 bu/a more
than Untreated
Corn
Formulated With
People...Products...Knowledge...
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Helena Chemical Company • 7664 Smythe Farm Rd • Memphis, TN 38120 • 901-752-4414 • www.helenachemical.com
Always read and follow label directions. Utilize is a registered trademark of Goemar. The Helena logo and People...Products...Knowledge... are registered trademarks of Helena Holding Company. © 2014 Helena Holding Company.
*Product of Goemar.
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