Pumpkin Insect Pest Control, 1992

Abstract

Pumpkins were direct seeded on 20 Jul near Bay, AR in Dubbs sandy loam soil on raised beds spaced 2 m apart. Plots were 12 m long, 3 beds wide with 3 m alleys separating plots. Treatments included applications at planting (AP) or 3 wks later; these were either a soil applied sidedress (SD) or a foliar application (F). AP applications were made in the seed furrow using a CO2 charged backpack sprayer calibrated to deliver 3.6 liters/100 m of row through a single hollow cone nozzle attached to the planter’s double disk opener. For the sidedress application, the spray nozzle was attached to a small knife which cut a 2 to 4 cm deep furrow ca 15 cm from the base of the plants. The broadcast foliar application was made with a tractor mounted sprayer equipped with flat fan nozzles calibrated to deliver 327 liters/ha at 0.55 MPa. Plants were inspected for pest presence and damage on 10 and 22 Aug. MA (winged and wingless) densities were determined by examining 1 leaf, 18 to 25 cm in diameter, on 5 randomly selected plants/plot. The entire plant was then inspected and the total no. of live adult SCB, SCB damage, dead SCB within a 30 cm radius of the base of the plant, and number of SB egg masses were recorded. SCB damage was rated on a 1 to 5 scale ranging from 1 = 0 or very little damage to 5 = complete decimation.