Introduction

Thunderstorms can bring in lightning that can damage soybeans, typically in circular or elliptical patterns at random places in the field.

Symptoms

Damage typically occurs in circular or elliptical patterns. Within the impacted area, plant death is usually relatively consistent with damage diminishing near the border of the impacted area. Impacted plants may have discolored stems and petioles (brown and black), look wilted, and may appear scorched. Plant stunting and death is possible.

Management

If suspected lightning damage has occurred, it is generally in a small enough area to not justify major management action, however to be sure to rule out injury from other pathogens and nematodes that might have similar damage patterns in the field. Rarely do these organisms cause as consistent plant-to-plant damage as lightning does.

Additional Resources

Seeing Dead Soybean Plants in a Circular Pattern? Could Be Due to Lightning (SDSU Extension)

Lightning (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)