Low-Volume Aerial Spraying of Several Insecticides for Cotton-Insect Control

During 1965 and 1966, low-volume (LV) concentrate formulations of several insecticides or insecticide mixtures were evaluated for control of the bollworm, Heliothis (Boddie), and the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman. Eight LV formulations and 3 waterdiluted emulsifiable concentrates were applied to 15 to 25-acre un replicated plots with a Piper PA18A®-type aircraft equipped with conventional boom, LV boom, and Micronair Rotary Atomizer® application systems. The Experiment was designed to compare the effectiveness of the LV materials with that of a standard treatment. Results in 1965 showed that the LV concentrate of the insecticides commonly recommended gave adequate control. These materials performed as well as the standard treatment. The undiluted materials that did not give satisfactory results at the rates used were Azodrin® (3-hydroxy- N -methyl- cis -crotonamide dimethyl phosphate), azinphosmethyl, malathion-Abate® ( O,O -dimethyl phosphorodithioate O,O -diester with 4,4 thiodiphenol), malathion, and diazinon. In 1966, similar tests were conducted using essentially those materials found to be satisfactory in 1965. Results revealed that all the L V materials gave satisfactory control and were as effective as the standard treatment. Strobane ®(terpine polychlorinates (65% chlorine))-DDTmethyl parathion and Strobane-methyl parathion, both applied at ½ gal. of concentrate/acre, appeared to be slightly more effective than the standard water-diluted treatment.