Laboratory and field tests in 1966-67 on chemical control of wireworms (Agriotes spp.)

Of sixteen compounds applied to soil in laboratory tests, azinphos-ethyl, P2188 (O,O-diethyl S-chloromethyl phosphorothiolothionate), ‘Dursban’ (O,O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate), P1973 (S-(N-methoxycarbonyl-N-methylcarbamoylmethyl) dimethyl phosphorothiolothionate), B77488 (O,O-diethylphosphorothioate O-esterwith phenylglyoxylonitrile oxime) and R42211 (O,O-diethyl O-(2-diethylamino-6-methyl-pyrimidin-4-yl) phosphorothioate) killed wireworms when first tested, but in second tests with the same soils only ‘Dursban’, P2188 and B77488 did so. Treating seeds with ‘Dyfonate’ (O-ethyl S-phenyl ethyl phosphonodithioate) or with ethion/γ-BHC mixtures killed few wireworms. Three field trials compared the organophosphorus insecticides ‘Dursban’, ‘Dyfonate’ and phorate with organochlorine standards. In trials with barley and potatoes the standard was 3 lb a.i./acre (3·36 kg/ha) of aldrin. The organophosphorus compounds increased plant stands of barley almost as much as aldrin, although they killed fewer wireworms; and they protected fewer potato tubers from wireworm damage. The third trial compared the organophosphorus compounds with 0·5 lb a.i./acre (0·56 kg/ha) γ-BHC sprayed on a site drilled with sugar beet seed dressed with dieldrin. The γ-BHC increased plant stands almost as much as did 3 lb a.i./acre of the organophosphorus insecticides, and killed as many wireworms.     

Persistence and distribution of insecticidal seed-dressings for control of the wheat bulb fly, Leptohylemyia coarctata

Samples of plants and soil from two experimental sites, one clay loam and one peaty loam, were analysed chemically to try to explain differing results with γ-BHC and dieldrin seed-dressings applied to control wheat bulb fly on different soil types, and to suggest reasons for patchy plant stands and occasional failure to control the pest. Seed dressed with dieldrin yielded more than untreated seed on both sites, whereas seed treated with γ-BHC yielded as much as seed treated with dieldrin on the clay site, but it yielded less than untreated seed on peat. The chemical analyses showed that the poor performance of γ-BHC on the peat site could not be explained by its failure to persist, because the soil still contained considerable quantities of γ-BHC at the time of insect attack. Possible reasons may be sorption of the poison by organic matter making it less available, and deeper sowing, permitting larvae to reach the plants without prolonged contact with the insecticide. Bayer 38156 (O-ethyl S-p-tolyl ethyl phosphonodithioate) and trichloro-nate (O-ethyl O-2,4,5-trichlorophenyl ethyl phosphonothionate) persisted in soil long enough and were sufficiently toxic to wheat bulb fly to suggest that organophosphorus compounds might provide alternatives to chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides for control of the fly. Analyses made on seeds dressed at the laboratory for the experiment showed that the amounts of insecticide on seeds were smaller than expected and that the amounts on individual seeds differed greatly. Of ten samples of seeds dressed commercially with y-BHC, three carried very little insecticide, and the variations in the other seven samples were greater than with experimentally applied dressings.     

Studies on the persistence and effects on soil fauna of some soil-applied systemic insecticides

Granular formulations of menazon, phorate and thionazin were applied to a sandy loam soil (pH = 6·1)in April and May as in-row treatments at commercial rates. They were also broadcast and mixed into the top 4 in of soil at concentrations (10 and 250 ppm of dry soil) which simulated the local in-row concentrations in areas large enough for sampling. Bioassays showed that 50 % of phorate, thionazin and menazon equivalents had disappeared in about 68, 57 and 23 days respectively from soil treated with 10 ppm of the insecticides. Small residues of the 250 ppm treatments still remained 2 years later. The initial rate of loss of activity of thionazin applied at 250 ppm was much slower than from a 10 ppm application whereas the activities of 250 and 10 ppm of menazon disappeared at similar rates. Phorate at 250 ppm killed almost all earthworms, Collembola, Acarina, free-living saprophytic and parasitic nematodes and Protozoa; 10 ppm phorate and 250 ppm of menazon also killed almost all Collembola and Acarina but the menazon was relatively harmless to earthworms. Collembola and mite populations began to increase when residues of phorate and menazon equivalents had decreased to about 2 and 20 ppm respectively, and after 15 months they were similar to those in untreated plots. The broadcast treatments initially decreased the rate of breakdown of leaf discs put in the soil but, after about 4 weeks, breakdown increased, sometimes above that in untreated plots. This was associated with a large increase in numbers of Enchytraeidae which were apparently unaffected by the insecticides. Four months after application, 1 lb/acre of phorate and 2 lb of menazon applied in seed drills 2 ft apart were not affecting Collembola in soil between the rows but were still decreasing the numbers within them. In -row phorate distributed along a 1·5 in diameter band of soil, 3 in deep, killed Collembola 3 in on either side but not 6 in away. It did not spread upwards in toxic quantities, but after rainfall, sufficient to kill Collembola leached at least 3 in downwards. We conclude that commercial in-row applications of chemicals like phorate are most unlikely to harm soil fertility, especially as the leaf-litter-destroying function of Collembola and other animals killed by phorate may be taken over by Enchytraeidae.     

The effects of insecticides on the biting behaviour of wireworms (Agriotes spp.)

Filter-paper discs soaked in nutrient were used to study how insecticides affect the biting behaviour of wireworms. When wireworms were buried in soils treated with 3.7 ppm aldrin, Bayer (38156¹), N 2790 or thionazin they stopped biting several days or weeks before they died. Three out of ten wireworms slowly recovered their biting ability after being buried for 4 days in soil containing 3.7 ppm -BHC. Biting behaviour was little affected when wireworms were confined to soils containing insecticides known to be not very toxic to wireworms.Nutrient discs treated with thionazin or -BHC were bitten less often than discs containing nutrient alone. Those treated with nutrient and aldrin were bitten almost as often as nutrient discs but the wireworms later stopped biting and died.

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Die wirkungen von insektiziden auf das fressverhalten von drahtwürmern (Agriotes spp.)

Zusammenfassung Um den Einfluß von Insektiziden auf das Freßverhalten von Drahtwürmern zu prüfen, wurden auf zweierlei Weise Filtrierpapierscheiben benutzt, die mit dem Nährstoff vollgesogen waren: a) durch Zumischen der Insektizide in den Boden, so daß die Drahtwürmer ihrer Kontaktwirkung nicht entgehen konnten (Bodenbehandlung), b) durch Aufbringen der Insektizide auf die Nährscheiben selbst (Scheibenbehandlung).Drahtwürmer hörten einige Tage oder Wochen vor ihrem Tode auf zu fressen, wenn sie in Böden vergraben waren, die mit 3,7 ppm Aldrin, Bayer 38156 (O-ethyl-S-p-totyl-ethyl phosphonodithioate), N 2790 (O-ethyl-S-phenyl-ethyl-phosphonodithioate) oder Thionazin behandel waren. 3 von 10 Drahtwürmern gewannen ihre Freßfähigkeit langsam wieder, nachdem sie für 4 Tage in Boden vergraben gewesen waren, der mit 3,7 ppm -BHC behandelt war. Die Freßfähigkeit wurde wenig beeinflußt, wenn die Drahtwürmer in Boden eingeschlossen wurden, der Bromophos, Dichlofenthion, Ethion oder RD 14838 (3-isopropylphenyl N-acetyl N-methylcarbamate) enthielt, von denen keines sehr giftig für Drahtwürmer ist.Wenn die Insektizide den Nahrungsscheiben zugefügt wurden, wurden die mit Thionazin oder -BHC behandelten Scheiben weniger oft befressen als diejenigen, die nur die Nahrung enthielten. Mit Nahrungsstoffen und Aldrin behandelte Scheiben wurden bereitwillig befressen, aber die Drahtwürmer hörten später zu fressen auf und starben.

     

Pesticides and the soil fauna: effects of aldrin and DDT in an arable field

Aldrin dust (3 cwt. of 1¼% per acre) or DDT dust (2 cwt. of 5 % per acre) was applied to small plots replicated four times and four plots were untreated. All plots were kept fallow for one year. Soil samples were taken at 2 to 3-monthly intervals and the fauna extracted by a notation method. The insecticides did not affect Lumbricidae, Enchytraeidae or Nematoda. Nearly 100 species of arthropods were found, and the greatest effects were those of DDT on mesostigmatid mites and of aldrin on entomobryid or isotomid Collembola and on Pauropoda. Most species of Collembola increased in DDT-treated plots, apparently because mesostigmatid mites were reduced. In terms of biomass Coleoptera and Diptera were most affected. Both insecticides killed more pests than predators or beneficial animals. The effects of the insecticides were greatest during late summer or autumn.     

EXPERIMENTS IN THE SUDAN GEZIRA ON CONTROL OF WILT OF DOLICHOS BEAN (DOLICHOS LABLAB) ASSOCIATED WITH ATTACK BY COCKCHAFER GRUBS (SCHIZONYCHA SP.)

Wilt of dolichos bean ( Dolichos lablab ) in the Sudan Gezira appeared to be due primarily to cockchafer grubs ( Schizonycha sp.) in the soil attacking the hypocotyls or roots of plants up to about 6 weeks after sowing. Many wilted plants also showed symptoms of ashy stem blight ( Macrophomina phaseoli ), but in these the fungus was probably a secondary invader rotting roots weakened or damaged by unfavourable soil conditions or insects. Wilt was often severe in dolichos sown on land cropped to sorghum ( Sorghum vulgare ) in the preceding season, sorghum roots in the soil harbouring the grubs. Under moderate grub attack seed dressings containing organomercurial and γ-benzene hexachloride (BHC) gave satisfactory-protection at 0.089%γ-BHC/seed but were inadequate when wilt was severe. Dieldrin and aldrin at 0.044 or 0.089%/seed gave excellent protection in all experiments, but their performance under exceptionally severe wilt conditions has yet to be tested, as also the relative efficiencies of seed treatment and soil treatment under such conditions. Fungicide-insecticide seed treatment also reduced preemergence rotting of germinating seeds due to grub attack.
Wilt rarely occurred in dolichos planted on land fallow in the preceding season, but, even in the apparent absence of wilt, seed treatment often appreciably improved emergence, plant populations, growth and yields. These effects possibly resulted from control of root damage by soil insects, such damage reducing growth and yields but not sufficiently severely to cause wilting. Pending further investigation a powder seed dressing containing organomercurial plus 20% dieldrin, and applied at 1:450 by weight to seed (about 5–6 g./acre of dieldrin), is recommended for dolichos bean in the Gezira.     

EFFECTS OF CULTURAL TREATMENTS ON WHEAT AND ON THE INCIDENCE OF EYESPOT, LODGING, TAKE-ALL AND WEEDS. Field Experiments 1945–8

An experiment was made on the fourth, fifth and sixth successive crops of winter wheat to determine the effects of various treatments on the troubles which result from close cereal cropping. Eyespot and lodging were prevalent in the first year (1946); weeds in the second; eyespot, lodging, take-all and weeds in the third.
Spraying with H₂SO₄ reduced the incidence of eyespot, lodging and weeds, and increased yield of grain on plots which received sulphate of ammonia (by 2.7, 2.2 and 10.0 cwt./acre in successive years).
Sulphate of ammonia increased the incidence at harvest of eyespot and lodging, reduced take-all and consistently increased yield of straw. Eyespot and lodging reduced the effect of the fertilizer on yield of grain, take-all increased it.
Increase in seed rate increased the incidence of severe eyespot and of take-all; it increased lodging except when plants were dwarfed by take-all.
Weight of straw and percentage straws with severe eyespot lesions independently affected lodging, together accounting for 51% of the variance in percentage area lodged at harvest and 64 % of that lodged 33 days earlier.
Mean yields of grain on untreated plots sown with 3.3 1/2 bushels seed/acre fell from 26.0 to 22.5 to 11.7 cwt./acre in successive years, whereas yields of 28.4, 29.9 and 29.1 cwt./acre were obtained on sprayed plots sown with 1 1/2.2 bushels seed/acre which received 4 cwt./acre sulphate of ammonia, showing that high yields were maintained when eyespot, lodging, take-all and weeds were controlled.
By 1948 yields of grain on unsprayed plots had fallen to the level of those on similarly manured plots on the continuous wheat experiment on Broadbalk field. Spraying increased grain by amounts similar to those resulting from one year's fallow on Broadbalk; but fallow had its greatest effects on plots with low nitrogen, spraying on those with high nitrogen.     

THE PHYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF D.D.T., B.H.C., PARATHION AND TOXAPHENE ON TOBACCO

No phytotoxic effect was seen following a pre-sowing spray of tobacco seed-beds with 27 lb./acre technical D.D.T. or after an application of the same material at 75.6 lb./acre to 3-week-old tobacco seedlings.
A pre-sowing application of parathion (diethyl para nitrophenyl thiophosphate) (2 % dust) at 1–8 lb. parathion per acre had no harmful effect. Used on 3-week-old tobacco seedlings at the excessive rate of 22.7 lb./acre it caused serious stunting and many deaths.
Toxaphene (chlorinated camphene: empirical formula C₁₀H₁₀Cl₈), applied as a 25 % wettable powder in a pre-sowing spray at 6-4 lb. toxaphene per acre, did not injure tobacco seedlings.
No residual phytotoxic effects appeared in beds re-sown 4 months after being treated with parathion or toxaphene at the pre-sowing doses given above.
Benzene hexachloride, applied before sowing at doses above 1.6 lb. technical B.H.C. per acre, suppressed root development in newly germinated tobacco seedlings. B.H.C. dusts used on n-day-old seedlings at 2–25 lb. technical B.H.C. per acre caused temporary distortion and stunting. Up to 11 lb./acre these symptoms were transitory: at 37.5 lb./acre many plants were killed and the remainder severely stunted. Resistance to these phytotoxic effects increased with age of plant, but 3-week-old tobacco seedlings showed considerable mortality after the application of 75.6 lb./acre of technical B.H.C.
Beds re-sown 4 months after the application of 6-4 and 12.8 lb. respectively of technical B.H.C. per acre showed no phytotoxic effect, but, as tobacco seed is sown on the soil surface, the effect of the B.H.C. may have been merely masked, and it is not safe to assume that there was no residual effect. The actual persistence of B.H.C. in the soil was not determined.
The possible mechanism of action of the B.H.C. effect is discussed.     

STUDIES OF THE TOXICITY TO WORKER HONEY-BEES (APIS MELLIFERA L.) OF CERTAIN CHEMICALS USED IN PLANT PROTECTION

Laboratory techniques are described for the estimation of the stomach poison, direct and residual film contact poison and fumigant poison effects of chemicals to adult worker honey-bees.
The toxicity of eleven chemicals used in plant protection has been investigated by these methods. The order of effectiveness as stomach and contact poisons was: parathion, TEPP, γ-BHC, dieldrin, aldrin, chlordane, o , o -diethyl- o -ethylmercaptoethyl thiophosphate (constituent of Systox), bisdimethylamino fluorophosphine oxide, toxaphene and the sodium salts of 2:4-D and MCPA: as residual films, dieldrin, aldrin, γ-BHC, parathion, chlordane, and o , o -diethyl- o -ethylmercapto-ethyl thiophosphate (constituent of Systox); toxaphene, TEPP and bisdimethylamino fluorophosphine oxide had no measurable effect; as fumigants, dieldrin, γ-BHC, aldrin, parathion, and chlordane; the remainder had no measurable effect.     

Nutrient content of the moist tropical forest of Ghana

Summary The total weight of vegetation on an area of just over 1 acre of old secondary forest in the moist forest zone of Ghana has been determined, and found to be equivalent to roughly 150 tons per acre dry weight. The nutrient content of each component of the vegetation was also determined and showed that the amounts of the major nutrients immobilised in the vegetation were: N, 1,800 lb./acre; P, 120 lb./acre; K, 800 1b./acre; Ca, 2,400 lb./acre; Mg, 350 lb./acre. The corresponding amounts of nutrients in the top foot of soil supporting the vegetation were: total N, 4,100 lb./acre; available P, 11 lb./acre; exchangeable K, 580 lb./acre; exchangeable Ca, 2,300 lb./acre; exchangeable Mg, 330 lb./acre. About half the nutrients stored in the vegetation were contained in readily combustible material, and except for N would be released to the soil if the forest were cleared and burnt for cultivation. The quantity of roots and the amounts of nutrients contained in them were not sufficiently great to make an important addítion to the nutrient supply in the soil during subsequent cultivation. Of the total quantity of roots supporting the vegetation 85.5 per cent by weight were within 1 foot of the soil surface.     

The Systematic Separation and Identification of Pesticides in the First Division

The systematic identification and determination of many kinds of pesticides were tried by a combination of column, thin-layer and gas chromatography. Pesticides in the first division,¹⁾ e.g., aldrin, DMC ethylene, CPAS, DDDS, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDT, heptachlor, quintozene, Telodrin and tetrasul, were separated from pesticides in the second division,¹⁾ e.g., α-BHC, β-BHC, γ-BHC, trifluralin, CPA, CNP, nitrofen, endrin, dieldrin, dicofol, etc. by column chromatography. Further, pesticides in the first division were separated from each other and determined approximately by thin-layer and gas chromatography.

The recoveries of these pesticides, except for aldrin and CPAS, were about 100%. The recoveries of aldrin and CPAS were about 70 %, due to decomposition during the procedures, or to adsorption on the adsorbent during the column chromatography. It was presumed from GC-MS data that CPAS was decomposed to DDDS, tetrasul and other compounds during the procedures.     

FIELD STUDIES ON WHEAT-BULB FLY INFESTATIONS

An account is given of two experiments done on commercial farms in Essex to study the effect of tilth, cultivation and seed rate on wheat-bulb fly infestation and the effect of infestation on yield. Heavier infestations developed on rough fallows and those cultivated during the oviposition period, than on smooth fallows and those not cultivated during the oviposition period. These results confirmed those of an earlier experiment done at Rothamsted. At each level of infestation, more larvae survived on plots sown at 3 bus./acre than on plots sown at 2/3 or 1 bus./acre. Although some plots had a high larval population no effect of infestation on yield was observed even at the lower seed rates. This is attributed to early sowing. The extent to which the cultural treatments studied can be used to control wheat-bulb fly infestations is discussed.     

Physiological studies of a hybrid between populations of Dactylis glomerata from contrasting climatic regions. II. Intra population variation

Mushroom compost was treated with nematicides and infested with Aphelenchoides composticola at the time of filling into growing containers. Yields of mushrooms from infested untreated control composts were reduced to 40–60% of yields from uninfested control compost. Yields from infested compost treated with fenamiphos emulsifiable concentrate (e.c.) at 10 or 20 mg a.i./kg, thiabendazole wettable powder at 40 or 60 mg a.i./kg or oxamyl granules at 20 mg a.i./kg were as high as from uninfested controls. Compost treated with granules of AC 64,475 up to 20 mg a.i./kg or ethoprophos or thionazin up to 80 mg a.i./kg gave yields significantly lower than uninfested controls. Numbers of nematodes rose to about 10⁶/20 g of compost in untreated compost and then fell, and a similar peak occurred in treatments in which yields were substantially reduced by nematode damage. Treatments which yielded as well as the uninfested controls held maximum nematode numbers down to about 10V20 g of compost but populations stayed at this level or tended to rise while numbers in untreated compost fell. Incorporation of fenamiphos in casing or its application to the surface of beds 3 wk after cropping began gave lower yields than the uninfested control but mushrooms were being produced late in the cropping cycle. Fenamiphos e.c. at 20 mg ai./kg incorporated in compost is considered a practical preventive measure for control of A. composticola.     

Experiments on integration of chemical and biological control of aphids on brussels sprouts

Two field experiments were made to test whether natural enemies would take over control of brussels sprouts aphids at the time when protection from a selectively acting, soil-applied systemic insecticide, menazon, began to fail. The natural enemies, notably Syrphidae, proved ineffective against Brevicoryne brassicae L. despite advantages given by the insecticide and by close planting, which greatly increased the ratio of numbers of syrphid eggs and larvae to aphids. Thus, development of the aphid population was little altered when infested plants were kept free of most natural enemies by hand removal. I lb/acre (1–12 kg/ha) of menazon applied as spot treatments to the soil at planting-out time decreased the number of overwintering parasite mummies by 70 % but such ‘mortality’ was compensated for by decreased mortality from hyperparasites and other causes, so the numbers of adults of the primary parasite Diaretiella rapae (McIntosh) which emerged in the spring were similar to those from untreated plots. Soil cultivation in winter drastically decreased the numbers of emerging adult primary parasites, hyperparasites and syrphids. The menazon treatment designed for integrated control (1 lb/acre) seemed too unpredictable in action, e.g. less effective in dry than in damp conditions, to provide the hoped-for chemical control needed until natural enemies became abundant. Menazon at 4 lb/acre (4·48 kg/ha) protected the crop throughout the growing season and bioassays showed that menazon or its toxic derivatives continued to occur in leaves during cool periods in winter and also in the following April-May nearly 1 year after application. The same amount of menazon per unit area of crop was less effective on 1 ft 6 in (45·6 cm) spaced than on 3 ft (91·2 cm) spaced brussels sprouts plants.     

The action of some systemic aphicides on the nymphs of Anthocoris nemorum (L.) and A. confusus Reut

The aphicides phorate, dimethoate and menazon were compared to elucidate the different pathways by which they can affect Anthocoris nymphs and their aphid prey.
When nymphs were caged in contact with deposits on bean leaves phorate and dimethoate had contact LC 50s of 20 and 3 μg/cm² respectively to Anthocoris nemorum and 46 and 6 μg/cm² to A. confusus. When the nymphs were confined on treated leaves on the opposite surface to the deposits, neither phorate nor dimethoate killed them. Menazon did not kill anthocorids at any dosage. All three aphicides killed over 50% of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Kalt.) on bean leaves at 1.6 μg/cm² whether the aphids were on the treated or untreated surface.
Experiments with ³⁵S-labelled phorate showed that anthocorids confined on phorate-treated bean plants, with or without insect food, accumulated the insecticide or its labelled derivatives. In field experiments in which A. nemorum were caged on plants treated with phorate, many were killed on young newly treated plants but not on older plants. A. confusus was relatively unaffected.
Anthocorids were reared from 2nd-instar nymphs to adults on aphids killed systemically with phorate, dimethoate or menazon without ill effects, despite evidence that ³⁵S-labelled phorate was ingested from the aphids and excreted in the faeces.
In the field, fewer large A. nemorum nymphs were found in August in plots of tick beans treated with phorate granules at 6 lb/acre (6.7 kg/ha) when sown, than in plots treated at 1.5 lb/acre (1.7 kg/ha) with phorate or menazon or untreated plots.     

EFFECTS OF PREVIOUS WHEAT CROPS, SEED-RATE AND NITROGEN ON EYESPOT, TAKE-ALL, WEEDS AND YIELDS OF TWO VARIETIES OF WINTER WHEAT: FIELD EXPERIMENT 1954-56

In a replicated field experiment mean yields of wheat from plots that, in the preceding 2 years, had carried oats, beans or potatoes were 39.2 and 42.6 cwt. per acre in 1954 for Holdfast and Cappelle, respectively; 42.8 and 55.8 in 1955 and 34.9 and 49.6 in 1956. Previous wheat crops had more effect than any other treatment in increasing the incidence of eyespot, take-all and weeds and in decreasing the number of ears per unit area and the yield of grain. In 1956 on plots carrying the first, second and third successive wheat crops the percentages of straws with eyespot were respectively 12, 54 and 42 and with take-all 0.1, 1 and 16. Cappelle was less severely infected by eyespot than Holdfast. The second and third successive wheat crops yielded an average of 23.3 cwt./acre less than the first wheat crop. Cappelle consistently yielded more than Holdfast, the mean difference being 13.8 cwt./acre after potatoes but only 3.8 cwt./acre after two wheat crops. The higher seed-rate gave an average increase in grain yield of 3.3 cwt./acre; but where eyespot and take-all were both severe the lower seed-rate yielded as much total and more dressed grain than the higher. Wheat given a spring top dressing of 6 cwt./acre Nitro-Chalk yielded an average of 4 cwt./acre more grain than wheat given 3 cwt./acre.     

Interactions of crop density of field beans, abundance of Aphis fabae Scop., virus incidence and aphid control by chemicals

The number of Aphis fabae Scop. per plant and per acre developing on field beans (Vicia faba L.) was inversely related to seeding rate (i.e. plant density) except sometimes at very low rates; with equal numbers of plants per acre, fewer aphids developed on plants in rows 11 in. than 22 in. apart. Plots sown in mid-March with more than about 150,000 plants per acre were more attractive than less dense stands to colonizing alate A. fabae, but established colonies multiplied most on the sparsest and least on the densest plots. The number of plants per acre infected by pea leaf-roll virus was inversely related to planting density. There were more virus-infected plants on II in. than on 22 in. spaced rows-in contrast to the numbers of A. fabae. A single spray with demeton-methyl, timed to control A. fabae, did not significantly decrease virus incidence. Grain yields of sprayed plots were little altered by increasing the seed rate above a critical minimum, except in one year when the densest crops lodged. Increased yields from spraying were closely related to the numbers of A. fabae on unsprayed plots. Dense planting (more than 400,000 plants per acre) prevented or greatly decreased losses caused by A. fabae in unsprayed plots except in one year when the aphids were exceptionally abundant.     

CONTROL OF SEED-BED LOSSES OF GROUNDNUTS BY SEED TREATMENT

Fungicide treatment of groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) seed usually reduced seed-bed losses and improved emergence, plant populations and yields of this crop when cultivated under rain in the sandy soils of Kordofan (west-central Sudan) or under irrigation in the alkaline clay soils of the Gezira. These beneficial effects were greatest with slightly damaged seeds, such as would occur with machine sowing, but were present even when selected undamaged seed was sown by hand; they were attributed to protection against a number of soil micro-organisms, including Aspergillus niger van Tieghem, A.flavus Link and Rhizopus spp. Agrosan GN (organo-mercurial, 1% mercury equivalent) or 50% thiram powder, both applied at the rate of 1 g./lb. of seed, are suggested as suitable dressings for groundnut sowing seed in the two areas studied. Combined fungicide-insecticide dressings containing up to 40% by weight of γ-BHC did not control a late attack of wilt, due to root attack by cockchafer grubs ( Schizonycha sp.), which developed some 8 weeks after sowing in the Gezira.     

Establishment and yield of three ryegrasses following aldicarb use, and changes in abundance of plant parasitic nematodes

Pure swards of Lolium multiflorum, L. multiflorum var. westerwoldicum and L. perenne sown in August had greater yields than autumn on areas treated with either 5 or 10 kg a.i./ha aldicarb than on untreated areas. Total annual dry matter yields increased by larger amounts where the greater rate of aldicarb was applied; throughout the trial, L. perenne was usually less affected by treatment than the other two grasses. Plant-parasitic nematodes were more numerous on untreated than treated plots and were fewest in areas receiving the larger application (except in the second harvest year). Numbers of Tylenchorhynchus and Helicotylenchus were affected most by treatments; abundance of Paratylenchus and Criconemella were little altered. Stem-boring Diptera invaded tillers of all three grasses but infection was least in L. perenne. Invasion occurred only on untreated plots in the establishment year and some yield benefit probably resulted from their control. In subsequent years invasion was similar on treated and untreated areas. Effects on other, non-target organisms were not assessed. Ectoparasitic nematodes multiplied more in L. multiflorum plots than in others during the first full-harvest year. The next year numbers of Paratylenchus only were greater in plots of L. perenne than in other plots. Sward persistence of L. multiflorum var. westerwoldicum was better on treated than untreated areas. It was concluded a) that aldicarb use greatly decreased nematode numbers and yields from treated areas were larger than from those untreated; b) that sward persistence was similarly improved following aldicarb use and c) that ryegrasses differed in their suitability as hosts to ectoparasitic nematodes.     

Field trials with D-D mixture against potato-root eelworm

A D-D mixture has been tested against Heterodera rostochiensis at seven 2-acre sites on sands, silts and blackland soils. Apart from a pilot trial where soil was injected in spring, injections were carried out in the autumn, and potatoes were grown the following year. Factors investigated were rate of application (0, 200, 400 and 800 lb. D-D/acre), depth of injection (4 or 8 in.) and the effect of rolling after injection. At the most responsive of the sites (Wainfleet), increases in yield, kill, and the post-crop eelworm population were all roughly proportional to the rate of application. Under favourable circumstances a 50% increase in yield and something like a 50% reduction in eelworm population 4 weeks after injection can be expected from 800 lb./acre, but the reduction is more than made good during the growth of the subsequent crop; accelerated multiplication of eelworm on the treated plots leads to their having a larger population than the untreated controls at lifting time. Of the sites tested, the blackland soils gave a lower eelworm kill and a much lower yield increase from D-D than silts or sands. After autumn injection the nematocidal, and probably the phytocidal, effects of D-D persist in the soil for many weeks. The hypochlorite method of 'hatching' eelworm larvae for counting has proved unreliable.