Chemical Control of the Sunflower Moth on Sunflower, 1983

This field test was conducted on sunflower planted at the Kans. Br. Agric. Exp. Stn., Garden City, KS. Nine treatments and an untreated check were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Each plot was 4 rows wide (76.2 cm row spacing) and 12.19 m long with 1.52-m alleys separating replicates. Insecticides were applied using a compressed air, backpack sprayer which delivered ca. 145 liter/ha at 1.4 kg/cm2 through a 3-nozzle boom. Sprays were applied directly to the sunflower heads on 21 and 26 Jul when plants were in the 30% and 100% bloom stage, respectively. A third application was planned 5 days later, but no adult moths were present at that time. Treatments were evaluated on 9 Aug by dissecting 6 heads from the center 2 rows of each plot and recording the number of larvae. Rainfall from the initial application to posttreatment evaluation measured 0.25 cm.