Evaluation of fertilizers (phosphite, calcium silicate), biological agent, imidacloprid insecticide and row covers for integrated management of cucumber bacterial wilt, 2007

摘要

This trial was conducted at the Russell E. Larson Agriculture Research Center at Rock Springs, PA in a Hagerstown silt clay loam rotated after corn. The experimental design was a split plot arranged in a 6 x 3 factorial with six replicates, each three-row main plot consisting of 9 plants per subplot spaced 18 inches apart. Rows were spaced 4 ft apart. The six whole plot treatments were: Untreated (Unt), BioYield (BY), Calcium Silicate (Ca Si), BY+Prophyt ~R (Pr), Ca Si+Pr, and Pr alone. Three one-rowsubplots were arranged on each main plot: None, Admire~R 2F insecticide (24 fl oz/acre in 75 gallons), and row cover (Agribon AG19). On 17 Jun cucumber seeds were planted in 50 ml IPL~R-Rigi-Pots~(TM) using Scott’s Redi-Earth transplanting medium aloneor amended with the biocontrol, BY or Ca Si. Plants were transplanted into the field on 9 Jul. The site was prepared with drip irrigation and rows were covered with black plastic mulch. One day after transplanting, Admire~R 2F was applied as a soil drench to respective treatments, Pr was applied with a Solo 450 motorized mist blower as a foliar treatment. Row covers were then installed over a randomly selected row in each subplot and suspended using six ft wire hoops. Plants were drip irrigated every day for the first week due to extreme drought and thereafter on a weekly basis. Pr application continued at 14 day intervals with the exception of the row-covered Pr plots that could not receive this treatment until all row cover was removed on 6 Aug. Precipitation was 4.05, 2.79, 4.8 and 1.65 in. for Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep, respectively. Disease incidence and severity for bacterial wilt was assessed weekly from Jul to Sept. Cucumber fruits were harvested six times between Aug and Sept. Populations of striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum were determined by counting numbers of beetles on 5 plants per subplot. The number of plants infested with aphids, number of plants with Erwinia tracheiphila induced bacterial wilt, and the cumulative yield from 6weekly harvests beginning in Aug are shown below. Data were analyzed using SAS proc mixed, and significance determined using the split plot ANOVA test.