Nematode populations may be sufficient to severely stress plants in some areas of a field. Stress resulting from nematodes and drought may be magnified when nematode susceptible varieties are grown. Therefore, if fields are not tested for nematodes, one should assume that nematodes are present within a field. If tests are conducted and nematodes found, a management program should be established to reduce the potential for yield loss as a result of multiple stresses from nematodes and drought. Rotation systems for managing soybean cyst nematode can be found in the South Carolina Soybean Production Guide.
Conservation tillage is one way in which moisture can be conserved.
The weight of most tractors and equipment compacts the upper portion of the soil, preventing adequate soybean growth and speeding up the onset of drought and stand loss associated with stress during drought. Deep tillage increases the rooting depth and volume from which nutrients and soil moisture can be extracted. With frequent disking prior to planting or cultivation following soybean emergence, the soil surface experiences a high rate of evaporative loss. Another benefit of surface residue and reduced tillage includes greater infiltration of rainfall, resulting in greater water storage following periods of heavy rainfall. Additional drought related information is available in Soybean Leaflet No. 11, Managing Drought Stressed Soybeans in the Southeast .