Greenhouse Soybean Cultivation and Maintenance

1. Greenhouse Soybean Cultivation and Maintenance At the Plant Care Facility University of Illinois Nathan A. Deppe, PCF Coordinator

2. Plant Care Facility - Information • Comprised of Three Greenhouse Complexes • Turner Hall Greenhouse • Built circa 1965 (3 phases) • 30 bays for research, demonstration, and education based plant materials • Conventional materials only (no regulated plants or organisms)

3. Greenhouse Complexes • Plant Sciences Laboratory Greenhouse • Built circa 1985 • 65 bays • Variety of research and education based materials • Biosafety level 1 and 2 for research with regulated plants and organisms

4. Greenhouse Complexes - Cont. • USDA Greenhouse • Built in 2005 • 10 bays • Specialized soybean and maize research (APHIS permitted materials) • Biosafety level 1 and 2 containment

5. Greenhouse Complexes-Cont. • In total, 100 bays for plant material • Approximately 1 hectare in area • Used by College of ACES, Department of Plant Biology, USDA-ARS, and private companies

6. Plant Types at PCF • Plant Collections • Tropical and sub-tropical plants • Ferns, epiphytes, succulents • Horticultural Crops • Floral, bedding, and vegetable crops • Agronomic Crops • Small cereal grains • Perennial grasses • Maize and sorghum • Soybean

7. Greenhouse Staff • Three Greenhouse Section Managers • Building Operating Engineer • Soil Operations Manager • Plant Biology Staff • PCF Clerk • Part-time Student Employees

8. Substrate Selection and Preparation For superior soybean research at the Plant Care Facility

9. Soilless Based Products • Plug and Seedling Mix • Fafard product (fine peat and perlite) • Medium Porosity • Sunshine Loose Compact #1 (LC1) • Contains medium grade peat and perlite • High Porosity • Metro-Mix 900 • Peat, perlite, bark, and vermiculite

10. Benefits of Soilless Substrates • Lightweight construct makes for easier handling • Vessels/pots are less heavy to transport • Better infiltration of water and nutrients • Peat offers superb cation-exchange capacity • Increased ability to leach salts • RECOMMENDATIONS: • Use medium porosity mixes during colder months and high porosity mixes during warmer months • Try a variety of mixes to see what performs best for your research • Do not overheat if pasteurizing or sterilizing prior to use

11. Potential pH Adjustment • pH of soilless substrates are generally low (5-6.5) • Adjust using dolomitic limestone • Incorporate mechanically in mix • Suspend in liquid and leach thru soil profile

12. Mineral Soil Based Products • Local topsoil blended with: • Sand (fine or medium grade) • Peat • Perlite • Vermiculite • Calcined clay • Soilless bagged mixes • Nutritive amendments

13. Preparing Soil Substrate Mixes • Shred local topsoil to fine tilth • Mix ingredients in batch mixer • Load into pasteurization soil cart • Pasteurize at 175 F for 1 hour • Transport to site

14. Popular Soybean Soil Mixes • Conventional Soybean Mix • Mix and pasteurize 1:1:1 (soil : sand : perlite (by volume)) • Transgenic Soybean Mix • Mix and pasteurize 2:1 (conventional soybean mix : metro-mix 900 (by volume)) • RECOMMENDATIONS: • Use on small scale plantings if you are unfamiliar with soil mixes • Do not use in tall columnar pots as sinking soil will drastically increase bulk density thereby plugging drainage

15. Monitor Soil Pasteurization • Soil pasteurization is required to destroy: • Soil borne diseases • Weed seed • Insects • Pasteurizing at high temps on long cycles can lead to: • Manganese toxicity in soybean

16. Substrate Fertility For excellent soybean growth at the Plant Care Facility

17. Water Soluble vs. Slow Release • Slow Release Fertilizer • Incorporate into substrate • Topdress • Aim for one application • Osmocote products • 13-13-13 (8-9 mo) • 15-9-12 (8-9 mo) • 17-5-11 (5-6 mo)

18. Water Soluble Fertilizers • Water Soluble Fertilizer • Constant feed or pulse fertilization • Easy to dose by concentration of N,P,K (ppm) • Multiple formulations for diverse plant types and growth stages • Everris Products • Peter’s Excel • 15-5-15 cal-mag • Peter’s Professional • 15-0-15 • 15-5-25 • 20-20-20

19. Fertilizer Recommendations • If using slow release products, water soluble fertilizers can be applied as needed during plant cycle • Make sure to frequently leach salts from soil column as to not increase electrical conductivity past point of damage • Determine the alkalinity of your water supply to help you select the most compatible water based fertilizers at your facility • Keep phosphorous in check

20. Integrated Pest Management Minimizing insects, mites, and disease on plants at the PCF

21. Cultural, Biological, and Chemical Control • Cultural Control for Managing Pests • Sanitary conditions • Removal of pest infested material • Implement sound irrigation and fertilization regimes • Keeping plants spaced and rooms organized

22. Sanitation thru Heat Treatment • Heat Treating (baking) Greenhouse Rooms • Increasing room temp to over 100 F for a period of days • Minimizes insects, mites, and pathogens • Exercise caution as to not over heat room thereby damaging electronics or shade materials

23. Biological Control Agents • BCA Program at PCF • Damage thresholds established per research objectives • Weekly scouting for insect and mite damage on soybean • Order and release BCAs monthly

24. BCAs Used at the PCF • Amblyseius californicus • Predatory mite that feeds on two-spotted spider mites • Packaged with vermiculite carrier • Breeding sachets for slow release • Amblyseius cucumeris • Predatory mite that feeds on thrips • Packaged with bran carrier • Sprinkled liberally on infested plant leaf surfaces

25. BCAs Used at the PCF – Cont. • Cryptolaemus montrouzieri • Predatory beetle used to control mealy bug • Purchased in small increments • Released from plastic container • Encarsia formosa • Parasitic wasp used to control whitefly • Pupae adhered to card and releases into canopy once pupates into adult

26. BCAs Used at the PCF – Cont. • Orius spp • Minute pirate bug predates on thrips • Produce/rear our own supply of Orius spp • Eggs laid on fresh bush bean pods • Bean pods disseminated once eggs hatch nymphs • Others • Amblyseius (Typhlodromips) swirskii – Controls thrips and whitefly • Phytoseiulus persimilis - Controls mites

27. Chemical Control of Pests • Chemicals are Applied as Required to: • Disinfect flats, pots, surfaces, etc. from pathogens • Kill insects, mites, and diseases when above thresholds • Decrease prey (pest) populations to allow BCAs to effectively work

28. BCA and Chemical Control • Prior to starting a biological control program, ensure you have a supplier that can deliver/ship BCAs next-day • Determine BCAs needed by prey, room environment, plant type and rotation • List and procure chemicals that can be applied post-biological release in case prey populations increase • Do not give up if immediate results are not observed

29. Questions? Thanks! Nathan A. DeppeUniversity of Illinois PCF Coordinator 1201 S. Dorner Dr Urbana, Il 61801 Email: ndeppe@illinois.edu Website: pcf.aces.illinois.edu Phone: 217-333-3058