Wireworm Control on Sweet Potatoes, Johnston County, 1978

Six row plots of 'Centennial' sweet potatoes, approximately 500-ft long, were treated at layby on Jul 25, near Benson, NC. A randomized complete block design was used with four replications. Treatments were applied by a sixrow fertilizer spreader. Potatoes were harvested on Sep 22. Wireworm damage was evaluated by scoring 25 roots selected at random from the middle 4 rows of each plot. Damage classes were: 0 = no damage; 1 = 1-5 holes; 2 = 6-10 holes; 3 = 11 or more holes/sweet potato. The total number of roots in each damage class/plot was then multiplied by a damage factor. Flea beetle damage was negligible.