| Abstract/Contents: | "Tests were conducted on a field plot consisting primarily of Kentucky bluegrass at the Valentine Research Center, University Park, PA. Treatment plots were 9 x 6 ft, arranged in a CRB design and replicated 3 times. Granular fromulations were applied with a hand-held shaker and mixed with fine top dressing sand to facilitate product distribution. Liquid formulations were applied by using CO₂ sprayer with 4 8004VS TeeJet nozzles mounted on a 6 ft boom, operating at 28 psi, and applied in 1021 ml of water/54 ft₂ or delivering 5 gal/1000 ft². Cruiser was applied in 2 gal of water from a hand-held 2.5 gal sprinkling can. At the 1st treatment time (18 May), the following soil and environmental conditions existed: air temperature, 60°F; soil temperature at 1 inch depth, 60°F; soil temperature at 2 inch depth, 56°F; RH, 53%; amount of thatch, 0.25-0.5 inches; soil textural class, silt loam; soil particle size analysis: 26.1% sand, 50.2% silt, 23.7% clay; organic matter, 2.8%; soil moisture (oven dry weight), 22.7%; water pH, 7.0; soil pH, 6.2; application time, mid-morning; and skies were overcast. Immediately after treatment the experimental area was irrigated with 0.187 inch of water. At the 2nd treatment-time (28 Jun), the following soil and environmental conditions existed: air temperature, 81°F; soil temperature at 1 inch depth, 84°F;soil temperature at 2 inch depth, RH, 70%; amount of thatch, 0.25-0.5 inches; soil textural class, silt loam to loam; soil particle size analysis: 26.1% sand, 50.2% silt, 23.7% clay; organic matter, 2.8%; soil condition, moist; water pH, 7.0; soil pH, 6.2; application time, early-afternoon; and skies were overcast. Immediately prior to treatment the experimental area was irrigated with 0.062 inch of water and after treatment each replicate was irrigated in with 0.124 inch of water. Post-treatment counts were made on 2 Jul and 5 Jul. Bluegrass billbug control was evaluated by removing three 0.087 ft² sod samples from each replicate, and the total number of bluegrass billbug life stages (larvae, pupae, adults) were recorded from each sample and converted to a ft² count. Sod samples were removed with a 4-inch cup cutter. Billbug infestations caused major damage to the experimental area in 1995. Bluegrass billbugs were observed to be active in the experimental area prior to treatment, based on spring 1996 pitfall trap counts. Merit 0.5G significantly reduced billbugs on 2 Jul but no treatments provided significant control on 5 Jul. No phytotoxicity was noted." |
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