Phorate {O,O-diethyl S-[(ethylthio)methyl] phosphorodithioate}, disulfoton {O,O-diethyl S-[2-(ethylthio)ethyl] phosphorodithioate}, linuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea], or metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] when used alone did not reduce soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Calland’] grain yield or plant population. However, combinations of metribuzin with either phorate or disulfoton interacted synergistically to reduce both soybean grain yield and plant population significantly even at recommended rates of both chemicals. Combinations of linuron with either phorate or disulfoton at recommended rates did not reduce soybean grain yield or plant population. Greenhouse studies further substantiated the synergistic interaction of phorate or disulfoton with metribuzin.

Field experiments were conducted at two locations in 1989 and 1990 to investigate possible interactions between POST applications of primisulfuron and selected soil-applied carbamate and organophosphate corn insecticides. Insecticides were applied in-furrow at planting, at recommended use rates. Primisulfuron was applied POST to corn in the three- or five-leaf stage at 0, 20, 40, or 80 g ai ha-1. Combinations of primisulfuron with disulfoton, fonofos, isozophos, or terbufos resulted in foliar and root injury, plant height reductions, and yield losses. No foliar or root injury, plant height reductions, or yield losses were observed from combinations of primisulfuron and carbaryl, carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, or diazinon. Differences among and within the experiments are attributed to edaphic and environmental conditions at the time of primisulfuron application.

Field experiments were conducted to determine if aldicarb, disulfoton, or phorate applied in-furrow at 0.84 or 1.12 kg ai ha–1 affected cotton response to clomazone applied PPI or PRE at rates ranging from 0 to 1.12 kg ai ha–1. Disulfoton and phorate greatly reduced clomazone-induced chlorosis, stunting, and death of cotton seedlings. Compared with no insecticide or with dimethoate applied POST, aldicarb did not affect cotton response to clomazone. A clomazone rate by insecticide interaction was not observed for cotton yield. Clomazone reduced cotton yield at one of five locations. Insecticides affected yield at three locations, where highest yields were from cotton treated with aldicarb. In a separate experiment with 0.56, 1.12, and 2.24 kg ha–1 of phorate applied in-furrow and 1.12 kg ha–1 of clomazone applied PPI, phorate at all rates protected cotton from clomazone phytotoxicity.

Cotton tolerance of DPX-PE350 applied POST alone, mixed with acephate, carbaryl, or dimethoate applied at 220, 1100, or 280 g ai ha−1, respectively, or following aldicarb, disulfoton, or phorate applied in the seed furrow at 1.0, kg ai ha−1 was evaluated. DPX-PE350 at 170 g ae ha−1 did not adversely affect seed cotton yield, fiber length, fiber length uniformity, or micronaire but did decrease fiber strength. The insecticides did not alter cotton response to DPX-PE350. Entireleaf morningglory was controlled 92, 95, and 96% with DPX-PE350 applied POST at 56, 110, and 170 g ha−1, respectively. Mixing acephate, carbaryl, or dimethoate with DPX-PE350 did not affect control.

Experiments were conducted in 1993 and 1994 to determine if seed treated with disulfoton at 3, 6, or 12 g ai kg−1 reduced bleaching of rice foliage caused by clomazone applied delayed preemergence at 0.56, 1.1, 1.7, or 2.2 kg ai ha−1 on silt loam and silty clay soils. Clomazone injured rice more on silt loam soil than on silty clay soil. Disulfoton reduced bleaching caused by clomazone. In additional field experiments conducted during 1995 and 1996, clomazone at rates as high as 2.2 kg ha−1 did not affect grain yield in seven of 10 experiments. Clomazone at rates below 1.7 kg ha−1 did not reduce grain yield in any of the experiments.

Efficacy of herbicide programs containing clomazone PPI plus fluometuron PRE or clomazone plus pendimethalin PPI plus fluometuron PRE was compared with that of standard programs of pendimethalin PPI plus fluometuron PRE and norflurazon PPI plus norflurazon and fluometuron PRE. Cotton injury was less than 5% with all treatments when disulfoton or phorate was applied in the seed furrow. Control of fall panicum, goosegrass, large crabgrass, eclipta, entireleaf morningglory, ivyleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, tall morningglory, prickly sida, redroot pigweed, smooth pigweed, hemp sesbania, spotted spurge, sicklepod, and velvetleaf and cotton yields with 0.8 kg ai ha−1 of clomazone plus fluometuron or 0.6 kg ha−1 of clomazone plus pendimethalin plus fluometuron equalled or exceeded that from the standard herbicide programs. POST-directed application of methazole at 0.8 kg ai ha−1 plus MSMA at 2.2 kg ae ha−1 increased sicklepod and morningglory control and cotton yield. Clomazone applied PRE at 0.6 kg ha−1 with fluometuron controlled broadleaf signalgrass, goosegrass, large crabgrass, prickly sida, and smooth pigweed equally with that of standard treatments of trifluralin or trifluralin plus norflurazon PPI and fluometuron PRE, whereas pitted morningglory control and cotton yield with clomazone plus fluometuron exceeded that with the standards.

An experiment was conducted at four locations during 1990 and 1991 to determine the response of cotton to 1.12 kg ai ha-1 of clomazone applied PPI in combination with in-furrow application of 0.50 kg ai ha-1 of aldicarb plus 0.14, 0.28, and 0.56 kg ai ha-1 of either disulfoton or phorate. Early-season cotton injury ranged from 15 to 63% with clomazone plus aldicarb. Stands were reduced 31 and 61% at two locations, and yield was reduced 50% at one location. Applied in combination with aldicarb, all three rates of disulfoton and 0.28 and 0.56 kg ha-1 of phorate protected cotton from clomazone injury. Phorate at 0.14 kg ha-1 partially protected cotton from clomazone injury.

Field and greenhouse experiments evaluated interactions of soil-applied insecticides and imazaquin and imazethapyr on growth and development of cotton. Imazaquin and imazethapyr were applied PPI at 0 to 6 and 0 to 16 g ae ha−1, respectively, in the greenhouse (plus a no-insecticide control), and 0 to 72 g ha−1 in the field in combination with aldicarb, disulfoton, and phorate (without a no-insecticide control) applied in the seed furrow. Cotton shoot fresh weight in the greenhouse experiment decreased linearly as herbicide rates increased. Greater reductions in shoot fresh weight were noted with imazaquin than with imazethapyr. Compared with no insecticide, the methylcarbamate insecticide aldicarb and the organophosphate insecticides disulfoton and phorate did not affect cotton response to either herbicide. In the field, cotton injury increased while stand, yield, and maturity decreased as herbicide rates increased. Delayed maturity was due to a lower percentage of bolls produced on sympodia from main stem nodes four to nine. Imazaquin caused greater injury, greater reductions in stand, greater delays in maturity, and lower yields than did imazethapyr. Earlier maturity was noted with aldicarb-treated cotton. Compared with aldicarb, disulfoton and phorate did not alter cotton response to imazaquin or imazethapyr.

Disulfoton and phorate applied in the seed furrow greatly reduce clomazone phytotoxicity to cotton in the field, whereas aldicarb does not. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of aldicarb, disulfoton, and phorate on 14C-clomazone absorption, translocation, and metabolism by cotton grown in a sandy loam soil. Clomazone at 0.87 μg g−1 of soil alone or in combination with aldicarb at 0.6 μg g−1 of soil reduced cotton root and shoot growth 26 to 33%. Root and shoot growth were not reduced by clomazone plus disulfoton or phorate at 0.6 μg g−1 of soil. Protection of cotton against injury by clomazone was not explained by reduced absorption or translocation of clomazone or a metabolite to the shoot. Clomazone metabolism was reduced by disulfoton and phorate, thus indicating a clomazone metabolite may be more toxic to cotton.

An integrated approach to the management of the sorghum shootfly (to keep its population below economic injury level) has been a major thrust of sorghum research workers during the last one and a half decades. The necessary foundation has been laid by detailed studies on the biology of the pest and a fairly thorough understanding of the effect of different ecological factors on the shootfly population. Based on seasonal incidence studies, sowing immediately after the onset of monsoon has proved to be effective for avoiding shootfly damage.

A large number of high yielding and shootfly-resistant derivatives have been developed by crossing agronomically desirable exotic lines with identified resistant sources. The new hybrids and varieties released recently possess low to moderate levels of resistance.

Parasites and predators affecting different stages of the shootfly have been identified but utilization of these natural enemies for the biological control of the pest is yet to be undertaken.

Carbofuran seed treatment has proved to be highly effective for protecting sorghum from shootfly damage. Some other insecticides have also been found to be promising.

Based on the control methods available at present, an integrated package has been recommended for implementation in traditional sorghum growing areas of the country.

The introduction of high yielding sorghum hybrids in the mid-1960s indicated that the new cultivars were highly susceptible to insect pest attack. Use of chemicals for the control of the snootily, Atherigona soccata (Rondani), became necessary to realise a full yield potential.

This paper briefly reviews the earlier work on conventional foliar sprayings and dustings of the available insecticides which generally failed to give an effective control of the shootfly.

Work carried out in the early 1960s showed that the application of phorate, disulfoton, aldicarb and carbofuran granules in the soil at the time of sowing was very effective in controlling the pest. Recently two more insecticides, viz. isofenphos and fensulfothion have been found to be equally effective. However, the cost of applying these insecticides is rather high.

Seed treatment with carbofuran at 5 parts a.i. per 100 parts of seed proved to be highly effective and economical. It is now being widely used by farmers in the major sorghum growing area of the country. It has been found that dosage of carbofuran can be further reduced by using a 6:4 mixture of treated and untreated seed.

Trials have been conducted to determine the residues of effective insecticides in the soil and in plants at different intervals. Investigations have also been carried out to establish the correlation between the residues of different insecticides in plants and their efficacy in controlling the shootfly. A future strategy for the chemical control of the shootfly is outlined.