Cotton and Pest Response to Nematicide-Insecticide Combinations Applied at-Planting across Different Soil Textures in a Spatially Variable Field - Year II

Use of at-planting insecticide and nematicides for early season crop protection may provide benefits to earliness and yield potential of cotton; however, costs of these protectants may be prohibitively high in production systems where managers are focused on reducing costs. There may be benefits using these products in a site-specific approach in spatially variable fields; however, there is limited information to guide managers in precision application. In this 2^nd year of a 2-year study in a commercial field in NE Arkansas, we investigated both plant and pest response to four at-planting treatments in a spatially variable field suitable for site-specific management. A base seed-applied insecticide nematicide of Aeris® (imidacloprid + thiodicarb), was used across all treatments. The four treatments were 1) Aeris, 2) COPeO Prime (fluopyram) + Aeris, 3) Velum Total (imidacloprid + fluopyram) + Aeris, and 4) AgLogic (aldicarb) + Aeris. The experiment was arranged in a randomized strip plot design with 3 replications. Each treatment was planted in 12 consecutive rows using a 4-row research planter equipped to apply in-furrow treatments. Plant, insect pest, nematode and soil monitoring activities were extensive through the season and included soil collections at planting and at first flowers, plant root gall assessments at first flowers, early season whole plant washes for thrips assessments which also included leaf area determinations, weekly plant bug sampling and COTMAN plant monitoring. Data to be presented will include results from in-season pest and plant monitoring as well as end-of-season plant mapping. Yield monitor measured yields and fiber quality results will also be included.