Chinch Bug Control in Sorghum with Granular Insecticides, 1987

Abstract

Abstract Funk's G522DR' grain sorghum was planted 19 Aug on loessial silt loam (Gigger-Gilbert complex) at the Macon Ridge branch of the LSU Northeast Research Station, following the harvest of a heavily infested corn field. Because the chinch bug population was very high it was expected that they would move into the seedling sorghum. The plant residue was shredded and disked into the soil. Granular insecticides were applied at planting using a 2-row John Deere Model 71 Flexi-Planter, modified to carry 1-pt jars of insecticide. Jars were inverted above funnels connected by flexible delivery tubes to either a 7-inch band or an in-furrow applicator. The diameter of a single central hole in the lid of each jar, in combination with tractor speed, determined the rate of insecticide flow. Banded insecticides were applied in front of the press wheel and further incorporated by a drag chain attached to the rear of the planter. A randomized complete block design with 4 replications was used, and each treatment consisted of two 40-ft rows spaced 36 inches apart. Treatments were evaluated 15 Sep by counting the number of chinch bugs/ft of row (based on 5 counts/replication). In addition, a visual rating using a 1-3 scale of the overall health of the plants in the different treatments was taken.