Tinring of Molluscicide Applications for Reliable Control in N0-Tillage Field Crops

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Abstract
With the increase in conservation tillage practices, especially no-tillage, growers in the eastern com belt are experiencing increasing problems with slugs. Many growers are reluctant to use conservation tillage practices if slugs cannot be managed. The usual control is a molluscicide applied on a therapeutic basis. However, some growers are considering the use of a molluscicide preventive treatment, applying the material at planting to reduce the need for additional trips across the field later in the spring. This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of molluscicide applications during the spring, starting at the beginning of planting season, in providing slug control. Molluscicide was broadcast weekly from early May to early June to corn, Zea maize L., plots, after which slug populations were sampled weekly with beer traps. Two additional samples were taken in mid-June, defoliation injury ratings and in situ counts of the number of juvenile slugs on corn plants at dusk. The predominant slug species in this study was the gray garden slug, Derocerus reticulatum (Müller). All 3 sampling procedures indicated that molluscicides applied in early May did not prevent juvenile gray garden slugs from becoming numerous in mid-June and, subsequently, causing defoliation injury similar to that observed in control plots. Only late May and early June molluscicide applications significantly reduced the number of juvenile slugs and prevented defoliation injury, probably because the molluscicides were applied near, or following, egg hatch.

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