Effects of Chlorpyrifos on Pod Damage, Disease Incidence, and Yield in Two Peanut Fungicide Programs1

Abstract

Abstract The benefits of chlorpyrifos (Lorsban 15G) soil insecticide treatment in standard (chlorothalonil) and developmental (tebuconazole) peanut fungicide programs were compared in five field tests over a 3-yr period. Chlorpyrifos treatment reduced incidence of southern stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) and insect pod injury, while increasing yield in the standard fungicide program. In contrast, chlorpyrifos treatment did not measurably affect stem rot incidence or yield in the tebuconazole program, and insect pod injury was reduced in only one of three years. Tebuconazole reduced Rhizoctonia limb rot (R. solani AG-4) and stem rot incidence, and decreased pod injury relative to the standard chlorothalonil program. Tebuconazole increased yield 804 kg/ha (716 lb/ac) over the standard fungicide. Chlorpyrifos increased yield 503 kg/ha (448 lb/ac) for a net return of $315/ha ($128/ac) in the standard fungicide program. However, in the developmental program, chlorpyrifos increased yield only 79 kg/ha (70 lb/ac) for a net return of -$2/ha (-$1/ac). Labeling of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor (EBI) fungicides such as tebuconazole would significantly affect peanut insect management in some production areas by reducing the economic incentive for preventative treatments of organophosphate insecticides.