Soil and Foliar Insecticides to Control Insects in Sweet Potatoes, Painter, VA, 1994
Abstract Sweet potatoes were planted on 17 Jun at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Painter, VA. Each plot consisted of 3 rows 20 ft long on 3 ft spacing, replicated six times in a randomized, complete block design. A single untreated guard row separated each plot. Soil treatments were applied immediately prior to planting in the manner indicated in the table and incorporated. Lorsban 4E and Fipronil 80WG were applied using a 6 flat fan nozzle boom backpack sprayer delivering 20 gal water/acre at 40 psi. The gallonage was increased to 40 gal/acre for the Sevin foliar sprays. The granular treatments were applied using a hand-held shaker. Application dates are indicated in the table. Foliar sprays were started when the first click beetles (wireworm adults) appeared in the black light trap at Painter, VA. The threshold sprays were terminated after the wireworm flights had stopped, and the scheduled sprays were applied weekly through 23 Aug. The center row of each plot was harvested on 12 Oct and 25 market sized roots were randomly chosen, washed, and then examined for insect damage. Damage from wireworms, Southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica) and Systena flea beetles is similar and was, therefore, counted and analyzed together as a complex (WDS damage).