Reducing insecticide use in cucurbits through in-furrow seed specific application

Jim Jasinski1, Matt Darr2, Reza Ehsani2, Erdal Ozkan2, Matt Sullivan2, Bob Precheur3

1 IPM Program, 2 Food, Agriculture, and Biological Engineering, 3 Horticulture & Crop Science

Objectives

1. To design a precision in-furrow insecticide applicator.

2. To determine the accuracy of the precision applicator at speeds of 1.4, 2, and 2.8 miles per hour with cucumber, zucchini, and pumpkin seed

3. To test the efficacy of the precision applicator using bioassays with striped cucumber beetles.

Continuous insecticide band over seed

Spray Tank

Sprayer Hose

Conventional In-furrow Application

Optical Sensor

Seed Monitor

Small insecticide band over seed

Spray Tank

Sprayer Hose

In-furrow Application

Optical Sensor

Seed Monitor

Small insecticide band over seed

Spray Tank

Miniature Solenoid

Sprayer Hose

Row Controller

Optical Sensor

Precision In-furrow Application

Small insecticide band over seed

Spray Pump

Miniature Solenoid

Sprayer Hose

Row Controller

Optical Sensor

Precision In-furrow Application

Seed / Band Synchronicity Results

% Water Band Synchronization with Seed

Seed Type Pumpkin Zucchini Cucumber All Cucurbits Planting speed

Band Band + Bounce

Band Band + Bounce

Band Band + Bounce

Band Band + Bounce

1.4 mph 97.0 a 98.3 a 96.0 a 98.3 a 91.8 a 95.0 a 94.9 a 97.2 a

2.0 mph 94.0 a 97.3 a 97.3 a 98.0 a 93.8 a 94.0 a 95.0 a 96.4 ab 2.8 mph 93.8 a 97.0 a 89.5 b 93.3 a 92.5 a 93.8 a 91.9 b 94.7 b Average 94.9 97.5 94.3 96.5 92.7 94.3 93.9 96.1

Seed and water band synchronization based on

the means of four 100 seed count replicates

Bioassay Trials

Bioassay Trials

Bioassay Trials

Bioassay Trials

24-72 hrs

Bioassay Trials Striped cucumber beetle survives…

• Check plot beetles should survive

• Insecticide band missed seed

• Initial concentration of Admire per injection below effective range

• Plant tissue has outgrown & diluted lethal Admire concentration

Pumpkin Bioassay Trial

Stage Treatments % Mean Mortality P-value

cotyledon Check 1.7 A < 0.0001 Low 41.7 B Con't. Flow 41.7 B High 68.3 C

1st leaf Check 0.0 A < 0.0001 Low 25.0 B Con't. Flow 48.8 C High 79.6 D

2nd leaf Check 3.3 A 0.003 Low 6.7 A B High 21.7 B C Con't. Flow 25.0 C

*

Cucumber Bioassay Trial

Stage Treatments % Mean Mortality P-value

cotyledon Check 16.7 A < 0.0001 Low 86.7 B High 90.0 B Con't. Flow 100.0 B

1st leaf Check 23.3 A < 0.0001 Low 66.7 B High 78.3 B Con't. Flow 90.0 B

2nd leaf Check 6.7 A < 0.0001 Low 58.3 B High 66.7 B Con't. Flow 90.0 C

Zucchini Bioassay Trial

Stage Treatments % Mean Mortality P-value

cotyledon Check 5.0 A < 0.0001 High 70.0 B Con't. Flow 70.0 B Low 73.3 B

1st leaf Check 0.0 A < 0.0001 Low 55.0 B Con't. Flow 77.9 C High 86.7 C

2nd leaf Check 5.0 A < 0.0001 Low 53.3 B High 58.3 B Con't. Flow 81.7 C

5th leaf Check 3.3 A 0.017 Con't. Flow 28.3 A B High 30.0 B Low 31.7 B

Bioassay Summary• 8 / 10 trials, Check had significantly less mortality

than ALL other treatments– In the other 2 trials, Check had significantly less mortality

than 2 other treatments

• 2 / 10 trials, Cont. Flow had significantly higher mortality than both SSIII treatments (Z&C 2nd)

• In general… – mortality decreased as seedling stage and size increased

– mortality increased as Admire concentration increased

• Some Striped Cuke beetles appeared to revive from their dead state…

Environmental SummaryUsage rates and PPM based on a seed specific in-furrow insecticide injection (SSIII) rate of 3 milliliters compared to continuous flow application.

1 SSIII high rate of Admire, 2 SSIII low rate of Admire, 3 Continuous flow rate of Admire

Rate/A Row Seed PPM Total % Savings

(oz) Width (ft) Spacing (ft) Soln Admire (oz) High / Low rate

Pumpkin124 15 2.7 7,816 3.7 84.6

Cucumber124 6 1 3,197 9.9 58.8

Zucchini1 24 6 1.25 3,197 8 66.7

Pumpkin216 5 2.7 1,788 2.5 84.4

Cucumber216 3 1 1,076 6.7 58.1

Zucchini2 16 4 1.25 1,433 5.3 66.9

Pumpkin324 5 2.7 2,571 24 NA

Cucumber324 5 1 2,571 24 NA

Zucchini3 24 5 1.25 2,571 24 NA

Economic SummaryCost per acre for Admire ($4.30 / oz.) based on a seed specific in-furrow insecticide injection (SSIII) rate of 3 milliliters compared to continuous flow application. 16 oz. / A rate costs $68.80.

Rate/A Row Seed PPM Savings / A

(oz) Width (ft) Spacing (ft) Soln Cost / A High / Low rate

Pumpkin124 15 2.7 7,816 $15.93 $87.27

Cucumber124 6 1 3,197 $43.00 $60.20

Zucchini1 24 6 1.25 3,197 $34.40 $68.80

Pumpkin216 5 2.7 1,788 $10.62 $58.38

Cucumber216 3 1 1,076 $28.67 $40.33

Zucchini2 16 4 1.25 1,433 $22.93 $46.07

Pumpkin324 5 2.7 2,571 $103.20 NA

Cucumber324 5 1 2,571 $103.20 NA

Zucchini3 24 5 1.25 2,571 $103.20 NA

1 SSIII high rate of Admire, 2 SSIII low rate of Admire, 3 Continuous flow rate of Admire

Project Summary• Multi-disciplinary team project• Designed and built Precision In-furrow Injector

– 1 Row unit ca. $1,000; $300 for each extra row– Can be adapted to any planter, needs opt. seed tube

• Synchronization of seed with injector band– Decreased as ground speed increased– Decreased as seed size decreased

• Bioassay studies (P, Z, C)– 80% of trial treatments had significantly higher

mortality than Check– Range of efficacy is very robust, very encouraging