Foliar Sprays to Control Ear-Invading Insects on Sweet Corn, 1997

Abstract

Abstract ‘NK-199’ sweet corn was planted in 4-row plots 100 ft in length on 29 May. Distance between rows was 3 ft. Distance between plants within the row was 8 inches. Plots consisted of 4 treatment rows with the center 2 rows serving as record rows. Plots were replicated 3 times in a RCB design. Sprays were applied with an International Harvester 770 Hi-Clear sprayer. The spray boom was adjusted to spray the silk area with each row being covered by 4 nozzles. The sprayer was equipped to treat 4 rows. All treatments were mixed in 10 gallons of water and applied at the rate of 25 gpa with 50 psi. Spray treatments were applied at 30% silk 21 Jul, 27 Jul, and 31 Jul, At harvest (8 Aug), 50 ears from the center 2 rows of each plot were husked and evaluated for insect damage for fresh-market (clean ears, no damage evident), processing (evidence of tip feeding but less than 3.6 cm tip damage), and culls (tip damage beyond 3.6 cm to the side and/or bottom). All insects found within the husk or ear were identified. The soil type was Norfolk “A” loamy sand.