Corn Planting Time Treatments for Black Cutworm Control, 1978

This experiment was planted on August 31, 1978, at Urbana, Illinois. The design was a randomized complete block with 3 replicates. Each plot was 10 ft x 10 ft and each plot was surrounded by 4-in. aluminum barriers in September. The emulsifiable formulations were measured with a milliliter pipette, diluted by 1 gal of water, and broadcast by a hand garden watering can to the plots and immediately incorporated to 3 in. by a rototiller (PPI) on August 31 ‘78. Two rows of corn were planted through the plots with International uniplanters. The soil temperature was 69°F. On the morning of September 1, the band treatments were hand applied over the presswheel and lightly incorporated with a rake. The bait treatments were applied on September 1, but were not incorporated. The corn began to emerge September 5 from the soil and 3rd, 4th, and 5th (mainly 4th) instar larvae were selected from the laboratory reared culture for infestation in the plots. Five larvae were placed in each plot along side a seedling plant the evening of September 7, and one larvae the early morning of September 8. Each cut seedling was marked by a 6-in. wooden stake on the date the cutting was observed. The corn was 1 -leaf stage on September 6, 2-leaf stage on September 11, and 3-leaf stage on September 14. From September 6-12 the evenings were cool with temperatures in higher 60‘s with heavy fog and dew on the soil surface and plants each morning. The soil was ideal for planting with adequate moisture for quick germination, but by September 13 the soil was dry to approximately 1 inch. A 1 -in. shower occurred on September 14 and 17. The soil was a Flanagan silt clay loam.