Arthropod management and applied ecology evaluation of seed treatment, herbicide, and nematicide on tobacco thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripdae) and reniform nematode (tylenchida: Hoplolaimidae) control

Abstract

Numerous pests infest cotton early in the season. Some economically important are Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri (S. Wats); tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds); and reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis (Linford and Oliveira). Thrips and weed management are essential to prevent delayed maturity and reduced crop yield. A field study was conducted during 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the influence of insecticide seed treatment, herbicide, and nematicide on tobacco thrips and reniform nematode control, as well as the impact on cotton growth, development, and yield. Treatments consisted of insecticide seed treatment (insecticide seed treatment and fungicide only), herbicide application (S-metolachlor, glufosinate, S-metolachlor plus glufosinate, and no herbicide), and nematicide application (1, 3-dichloropropene and no nematicide). There were no significant interactions between insecticide seed treatment, herbicide, and nematicide for any parameter. Nor were there any interactions in respect to nematode densities, thrips densities, thrips injury, herbicide injury, or plant biomass. Nematode densities were reduced with the use of 1,3-dichloropropene when sampled at first square and post-harvest. Thrips densities and injury were reduced at the 1-to 2-leaf stage sample timing with an insecticide seed treatment, but not at the 3-to 4-leaf stage sample timing. Herbicide injury was the greatest following S-metolachlor plus glufosinate applications (< 12%). A significant interaction between nematicide and insecticide seed treatment was observed for cotton yield, where the use of 1,3-dichloropropene and the insecticide seed treatment resulted in greater yields than all other treatments.