Growing soybeans
- XtendFlex® and Enlist E3® soybeans are the primary traits in today’s soybean fields.
- Make sure you know where each variety is planted to avoid unwanted herbicide injury.
Soybean traits have become more complex, having multiple herbicide tolerances in a single trait. Good record keeping on what seed is planted where is highly encouraged if planting multiple traits because, the traits are not interchangeable. Misapplication over-the-top of the wrong trait could result in complete plant mortality and warrant replanting. The most widely used herbicide tolerant soybean traits on the market are XtendFlex® (XF)and Enlist E3® (E3) soybeans.
XtendFlex® (XF)
XtendFlex® soybeans are built on the premise of the RR2X trait, which gives tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba, and glufosinate. There are currently no dicamba products registered for over the top use in soybeans. To manage glyphosate-resistant weeds, the addition of glufoinate to the tank mixture provides good control of many hard to manage weeds, including waterhemp.
Enlist E3®
Enlist E3® platform confers tolerance to preemergence and postemergence applications of glyphosate, glufosinate and 2,4-D. For postemergence applications of 2,4-D on Enlist E3® soybeans, use either Enlist One™ with Colex-D® Technology or Enlist Duo® with Colex-D® technology. Enlist One™ and Enlist Duo® formulations contain a reduced volatility formulation, 2,4-D-choline, compared to older ester and amine 2,4-D formulations.
Summary
XtendFlex® and Enlist E3® traited soybeans are currently dominating the soybean market. Be aware of what trait is planted on your fields. While they both have tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate, the primary difference would be the approved use of 2,4-D Choline formulations postemergence in Enlist soybeans. This provides another option to managing weeds, but care should be taken to avoid misapplication to XtendFlex® soybeans.