Field evaluation of plaster-based temephos pellets for residual control of midge larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in establishing rice crops

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Stevens ◽  
GN Warren

A pelletised formulation of temephos (5% a.i.) was evaluated as a potential control agent for chironomid midge larvae in establishing rice crops. Four application rates between 0.03 and 0.53 mg a.i./L (42-732 g a.i./ha) were applied to 80 m2 experimental rice bays immediately after flooding. Water samples and soil core samples were taken at regular intervals until 29 days post-treatment. Larvae were extracted from core samples using magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) flotation, whilst laboratory-reared fourth instar Chironomus tepperi Skuse larvae were used in bioassays with field-collected water samples to determine pesticide activity in the water column. All treatments significantly suppressed C. tepperi-type larvae in the field for at least 13 days. Some suppression of non-C. tepperi-type larvae was obtained at 0.27 mg a.i./L, whilst at 0.53 mg a.i./L all chironomids were reduced to negligible levels for the full period of the trial. In bioassays, significant levels of water column toxicity to fourth instar C. tepperi larvae were only recorded for 2 days after treatment at the highest application rate. Our results indicate that plaster-based temephos pellets have the potential to provide effective, single application control of chironomid larvae in establishing rice crops without the risk of spray drift inherent in the aerial application of liquid insecticides.

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 437-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.M. Kamal Hossain ◽  
Liping Fu ◽  
Roberto Lake

This paper presents the results of an extensive field study on the comparative performance of alternative materials for snow and ice control of transportation facilities. Approximately 300 tests were conducted in a real-world environment, covering four alternative materials, and 21 snow events. Each of the alternatives tested were compared to regular rock salt in terms of snow melting performance — bare-pavement regain time. The study confirmed the relative advantage of these alternatives over the regular salt, but also showed that their performance varied largely depending on some external conditions. Performance models were calibrated and then used for developing application rate adjustment factors that can be applied by maintenance operations for determining the optimal application rates for specific weather events and pavement conditions. The applicability of the results is limited to parking lots and sidewalks without the traffic effects, and as such cannot be easily applied to winter roadways maintenance.


Author(s):  
Lillian Mukandiwa ◽  
Jacobus N. Eloff ◽  
Donald R. Sibanda ◽  
Vinny Naidoo

Clausena anisata is a medicinal plant used traditionally to treat myiasis and as an insect repellent by various communities. We have previously demonstrated the effects of C. anisata extracts on blowfly feeding and development in our laboratory. The impact of C. anisata leaf extracts on populations of different fly species on farms in Mpumalanga, South Africa was investigated in this study under field conditions. Flies were exposed to liver baits treated with acetone leaf extracts of C. anisata (150 mg/mL). Fly numbers and composition on two farms, with and without C. anisata treated liver, were compared during a period of 12 weeks when fly populations were expected to be high. Observations were made on fly behaviour and development, adult sizes and numbers. The flies exposed to liver treated with the leaf extract of C. anisata had a decreased rate of development, prolonged larval period, smaller body sizes and more sluggish behaviour compared to those subjected to the control treatment. No significant differences were, however, found between the numbers and sizes of flies on the treated and on the control farm, which was most likely due to the limited nature of the baiting programme we followed. The effects of C. anisata extracts on blowfly behaviour and development observed in previous laboratory studies were confirmed in this field evaluation. Although the extracts did not have a significant effect on the overall population size in this experiment, we believe that the C. anisata leaf extract could be useful in integrated pest management based on its effect on larval development. In addition, species such as Lucilia cuprina and Chrysomya marginalis seemed to have been repelled by the C. anisata treated liver; as a result, further work should explore this aspect and how it can be used for the protection of animals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 468-476
Author(s):  
Miroslav Jursík ◽  
Martin Kočárek ◽  
Michaela Kolářová ◽  
Lukáš Tichý

Six sunflower herbicides were tested at two application rates (1N and 2N) on three locations (with different soil types) within three years (2015–2017). Efficacy of the tested herbicides on Chenopodium album increased with an increasing cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil. Efficacy of pendimethalin was 95%, flurochloridone and aclonifen 94%, dimethenamid-P 72%, pethoxamid 49% and S-metolachlor 47%. All tested herbicides injured sunflower on sandy soil (Regosol) which had the lowest CEC, especially in wet conditions (phytotoxicity 27% after 1N application rate). The highest phytotoxicity was recorded after the application of dimethenamid-P (19% at 1N and 45% at 2N application rate). Main symptoms of phytotoxicity were leaf deformations and necroses and the damage of growing tips, which led to destruction of some plants. Aclonifen, pethoxamid and S-metolachlor at 1N did not injure sunflower on the soil with the highest CEC (Chernozem) in any of the experimental years. Persistence of tested herbicides was significantly longer in Fluvisol (medium CEC) compared to Regosol and Chernozem. Dimethenamid-P showed the shortest persistence in Regosol and Chernozem. The majority of herbicides was detected in the soil layer 0–5 cm in all tested soils. Vertical transport of herbicides in soil was affected by the herbicide used, soil type and weather conditions. The highest vertical transport was recorded for dimethenamid-P and pethoxamid (4, resp. 6% of applied rate) in Regosol in the growing season with high precipitation.  


Author(s):  
Subin Kalu ◽  
Gboyega Nathaniel Oyekoya ◽  
Per Ambus ◽  
Priit Tammeorg ◽  
Asko Simojoki ◽  
...  

AbstractA 15N tracing pot experiment was conducted using two types of wood-based biochars: a regular biochar and a Kon-Tiki-produced nutrient-enriched biochar, at two application rates (1% and 5% (w/w)), in addition to a fertilizer only and a control treatment. Ryegrass was sown in pots, all of which except controls received 15N-labelled fertilizer as either 15NH4NO3 or NH415NO3. We quantified the effect of biochar application on soil N2O emissions, as well as the fate of fertilizer-derived ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) in terms of their leaching from the soil, uptake into plant biomass, and recovery in the soil. We found that application of biochars reduced soil mineral N leaching and N2O emissions. Similarly, the higher biochar application rate of 5% significantly increased aboveground ryegrass biomass yield. However, no differences in N2O emissions and ryegrass biomass yields were observed between regular and nutrient-enriched biochar treatments, although mineral N leaching tended to be lower in the nutrient-enriched biochar treatment than in the regular biochar treatment. The 15N analysis revealed that biochar application increased the plant uptake of added nitrate, but reduced the plant uptake of added ammonium compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Thus, the uptake of total N derived from added NH4NO3 fertilizer was not affected by the biochar addition, and cannot explain the increase in plant biomass in biochar treatments. Instead, the increased plant biomass at the higher biochar application rate was attributed to the enhanced uptake of N derived from soil. This suggests that the interactions between biochar and native soil organic N may be important determinants of the availability of soil N to plant growth.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1368
Author(s):  
Wenzheng Tang ◽  
Wene Wang ◽  
Dianyu Chen ◽  
Ningbo Cui ◽  
Haosheng Yang ◽  
...  

In order to meet the growing food demand of the global population and maintain sustainable soil fertility, there is an urgent need to optimize fertilizer application amount in agricultural production practices. Most of the existing studies on the optimal K rates for apple orchards were based on case studies and lack information on optimizing K-fertilizer management on a regional scale. Here, we used the method of combining meta-analysis with the K application rate-yield relationship model to quantify and summarize the optimal K rates of the Loess Plateau and Bohai Bay regions in China. We built a dataset based on 159 observations obtained from 18 peer-reviewed literature studies distributed in 15 different research sites and evaluated the regional-scale optimal K rates for apple production. The results showed that the linear plus platform model was more suitable for estimating the regional-scale optimal K rates, which were 208.33 and 176.61 kg K ha−1 for the Loess Plateau and Bohai Bay regions of China, respectively. Compared with high K application rates, the optimal K rates increased K use efficiency by 45.88–68.57%, with almost no yield losses. The optimal K rates also enhanced the yield by 6.30% compared with the low K application rates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 105564
Author(s):  
Luisa F. Cruz ◽  
Juan C. Cruz ◽  
Daniel Carrillo ◽  
Arturo I. Mtz-Enriquez ◽  
Araceli Lamelas ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 304-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lais Tessari Perboni ◽  
Dirceu Agostinetto ◽  
Leandro Vargas ◽  
Joanei Cechin ◽  
Renan Ricardo Zandoná ◽  
...  

Abstract: The goals of this study were to evaluate herbicide application rates at different timings for preharvest desiccation of wheat (Trial 1), as well as to evaluate the effect of the timing of herbicide desiccation at preharvest and harvest timing (Trial 2) on yield, germination, and herbicide residue in wheat seed. In Trial 1, treatments consisted of two application rates of glufosinate, glyphosate, paraquat, or paraquat+diuron and a control without application; application time periods were in the milk grain to early dough stage, soft dough to hard dough stage, and hard dough stage. In Trial 2, treatments consisted of different application time periods (milk grain to early dough stage, and soft dough to hard dough stage), different herbicides (glufosinate, 2,4-D+glyphosate, and untreated control), and different harvest times (5, 10 and 15 days after herbicide application). One thousand seeds weight, yield, first and final germination count, and herbicide residue on seeds were evaluated. Preharvest desiccation with paraquat, glufosinate, and 2,4-D+glyphosate at the milk grain to early dough stage reduces wheat yield. Regardless of the herbicide and application rate, application in the milk grain to early dough stage and soft dough to hard dough stage provides greater germination of wheat seeds, except at the lower dose of paraquat. Systemic herbicides accumulate more in wheat seeds.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1136
Author(s):  
Se-Won Kang ◽  
Jin-Ju Yun ◽  
Jae-Hyuk Park ◽  
Ju-Sik Cho

A field experiment was carried out to investigate crop productivity, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and soil quality of an upland field treated with compost and varying rates of biochar (BC) derived from soybean stalks during crop growing periods in a corn and Chinese cabbage rotation system. Compost was supplemented with BC derived from soybean stalks at varying rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha−1 (BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20, respectively); the control (BC0) area was untreated. Our results reveal that crop productivity and emissions of CO2 and N2O varied significantly with the biochar application rate. Moreover, irrespective of the biochar application rate, crop productivity was improved after BC application as compared to the control treatment area, by 11.2–29.3% (average 17.0 ± 8.3%) for corn cultivation and 10.3–39.7% (average 27.8 ± 12.7%) for Chinese cabbage cultivation. Peak emissions of CO2 and N2O were mainly observed in the early period of crop cultivation, whereas low CO2 and N2O emissions were determined during the fallow period. Compared to the control area, significant differences were obtained for CO2 emissions produced by the different biochar application rates for both crops. During the two cropping periods, the overall N2O emission was significantly decreased with BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20 applications as compared to the control, ranging from 11.1 to 13.6%, 8.7 to 15.4%, 23.1 to 26.0%, and 15.0 to 19.6%, respectively (average 16.9% decrease in the corn crop period and 16.3% in the Chinese cabbage crop period). Soil quality results after the final crop harvest show that bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly improved by biochar application, as compared to the control. Taken together, our results indicate that compost application supplemented with biochar is potentially an appropriate strategy for achieving high crop productivity and improving soil quality in upland field conditions. In conclusion, appropriate application of biochar with compost has the concomitant advantages of enriching soil quality for long-term sustainable agriculture and reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers.


Soil Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Neyshabouri ◽  
Mehdi Rahmati ◽  
Claude Doussan ◽  
Boshra Behroozinezhad

Unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity K is a fundamental transfer property of soil but its measurement is costly, difficult, and time-consuming due to its large variations with water content (θ) or matric potential (h). Recently, C. Doussan and S. Ruy proposed a method/model using measurements of the electrical conductivity of soil core samples to predict K(h). This method requires the measurement or the setting of a range of matric potentials h in the core samples—a possible lengthy process requiring specialised devices. To avoid h estimation, we propose to simplify that method by introducing the particle-size distribution (PSD) of the soil as a proxy for soil pore diameters and matric potentials, with the Arya and Paris (AP) model. Tests of this simplified model (SM) with laboratory data on a broad range of soils and using the AP model with available, previously defined parameters showed that the accuracy was lower for the SM than for the original model (DR) in predicting K (RMSE of logK = 1.10 for SM v. 0.30 for DR; K in m s–1). However, accuracy was increased for SM when considering coarse- and medium-textured soils only (RMSE of logK = 0.61 for SM v. 0.26 for DR). Further tests with 51 soils from the UNSODA database and our own measurements, with estimated electrical properties, confirmed good agreement of the SM for coarse–medium-textured soils (<35–40% clay). For these textures, the SM also performed well compared with the van Genuchten–Mualem model. Error analysis of SM results and fitting of the AP parameter showed that most of the error for fine-textured soils came from poorer adequacy of the AP model’s previously defined parameters for defining the water retention curve, whereas this was much less so for coarse-textured soils. The SM, using readily accessible soil data, could be a relatively straightforward way to estimate, in situ or in the laboratory, K(h) for coarse–medium-textured soils. This requires, however, a prior check of the predictive efficacy of the AP model for the specific soil investigated, in particular for fine-textured/structured soils and when using previously defined AP parameters.


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