Abstract Application of harvest aids to desiccate soybean Glycine Max (L.) Merr. is one method proposed to limit harvest delays from variable fall weather patterns in the northern United States. Field research was conducted over 4 site‐years in Michigan to evaluate the effect of two preharvest desiccation timings (early, label) of the harvest aids paraquat, saflufenacil, and sodium chlorate in typical and late maturity group soybean on soybean desiccation, yield, seed quality, and seed dry down. Following the early application at 3 of 4 site‐years, paraquat and sodium chlorate desiccated soybean 90% and 87%, which was 23% and 19% greater than non‐desiccated soybean, respectively, 7 days after harvest aid applications (DAT). By 14 DAT, soybean desiccation with paraquat and sodium chlorate was only 5%–6% greater than non‐desiccated soybean in 3 of 4 site‐years. At all locations, paraquat was the most effective harvest aid following the label application, improving desiccation by at least 8% and 3%, 3 and 7 DAT compared with non‐desiccated soybean, respectively. Soybean desiccation was 95% or greater in all treatments by 10–14 days after the label application. Saflufenacil was not effective at desiccating soybean compared with paraquat and sodium chlorate. The only difference in seed moisture between paraquat and non‐desiccated soybean occurred following the early application in 2024. In 2 of 4 site‐years, harvest aid applications resulted in 7%–9% yield loss. Overall, the potential of yield loss from harvest aid applications may nullify advantages of harvest aid applications for quicker soybean harvestability in the northern United States.
Waldecker et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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