Cultivation and Planting-Time Insecticide Treatments for Control of Corn Rootworms in South Dakota, 1997

Abstract

Abstract Cornfields located near New Holland and Garretson in central and eastern South Dakota, respectively, were chosen for this study. The experiment was conducted to evaluate insecticide efficacy using ground-driven Noble metering and electronic Smartbox metering units with band or in-furrow insecticide placement methods for control of northern and/or western com rootworm larvae. Treatment plots (15.2-m-long rows spaced 0.96 m apart) were arranged in a RCB design with four replications. Noble and Smartbox metering units were calibrated on the planter prior to insecticide applications. Banded treatments were applied in an 18-cm swath in front of the furrow-closing wheels, and incorporated by the wheels and drag chains. In-furrow applications consisted of directing granules immediately between double-disk furrow openers. Pioneer IR-3751 (100-day) com seed was planted at approximately 23,000 kernels per acre at each location. Five roots per replicate were dug, washed, examined for feeding damage, and rated using the Iowa 1 to 6 scale. Data were analyzed with the ANOVA procedure and means were compared using LSD.