by SHAWN BRENNEMAN
Soybean aphids are attracted to fields under stress. A soil test confirmed my hypothesis – that the soybean plants on the knoll of Roger’s field were stressed by a potassium deficiency.
Potassium-deficient soil can significantly reduce soybean yield and quality. On the flip side, potassium-rich soil can increase plant resistance to pests and diseases.
Research in recent years has confirmed a link between potassium-deficient plants and soybean aphids, insects that thrive by sucking valuable nutrients from soybean plants.