CONTROL OF THE SOYBEAN LOOPER IN SOYBEANS, 2012

A study was conducted at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research Station in Alexandria, LA to evaluate insecticides for management of the SBL. Ten insecticide treatments, in addition to an untreated check, were assessed in a RCBD with 4 blocks and 1 replicate per block. Soybeans (HALO 4:94) were planted on 10 May on 38-inch centers (twin rows, 160,000 seeds/acre). Plots were 4 rows wide and 35 ft long. Insecticides were applied on 23 Aug, when SBL densities were approaching the LSU AgCenter recommended action threshold. All treatments were applied with the non-ionic surfactant Induce at 0.25% v/v. A CO2-pressurized backpack sprayer calibrated to deliver 10 gpa at 40 psi was used with a 2-row boom equipped with 4 TeeJet TX VS6 nozzles spaced at 19 inches. Treatment efficacy was evaluated on the 2 center rows of each plot by estimating percent defoliation and collecting insects from a 25-sweep sample with a 15-inch diameter sweep net. The two center rows of each plot were harvested for yield on 8 Oct. Defoliation data and SBL counts were compared using repeated measures ANOVA (PROC MIXED, SAS Institute). Yields were compared using a 1-way ANOVA (PROC MIXED, SAS Institute).