1971 - TEST OF TRANSPLANTS. COATING AND INSECTICIDES - DRAYTON
(A Preliminary Report)

Russell A. Steen, Research Agriculturist
American Crystal Sugar Company

The object of this study was to take another look at sugarbeet transplanting in the maggot infested area of the Red River Valley and to evaluate the use of insecticides incorporated into the clay coating on pelleted sugarbeet seed for maggot control.

Due to the good results obtained by Mr. Ron Torkelson of the NDSU Soils Department in his 1970 transplant study at the Cavalier site, it was decided to run a replicated trial in the newly established maggot nursery on the Cliff Shaver Farm west of Drayton. The beet plants were started in capsules designed and manufactured by the Gates Rubber Company of Denver, Colorado and cultured in an East Grand Forks commercial greenhouse for 7 weeks until transplanting time. These plants were grown on a hydroponics fertilizer solution of potassium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganous sulfate and traces of copper and zinc sulfate and boron. The solution was buffered with sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide.

On May 18, 1/3 of the transplant capsules were treated with Furadan at 1/2 pound actual material per acre and another 1/3 were treated with 2.0 pounds actual of Thimet per acre. The remaining 1/3 were left untreated. All the transplants were set out the same day as they were treated. Also included in the test were 8 treatments of coated seed, 6 of which were treated with 3 rates (2, 4 & 6 oz/2 lbs of bare seed) of Furadan and 3 like rates of Thimet. The remaining 3 treatments were made up of bare seed. normal coated seed, and an experimental coating all with no insecticides added. Because of the extra space needed around the seed for the insecticide, it was essential to use the maxiball size (l6-18/'64) seed pellets rather than the normal 9-11/64 sized coated seed.

Following is a data summary of the 3971 yield results and the average maggot scar counts per beet.

The most striking results, of course, is the 9.5 ton increase obtained with transplants over the normal seeded beets. Also of significance is the fact that the transplants had fewer maggot scars per beet. Additional benefit was obtained by treating the transplants at planting time with Furadan and Thimet. The 1/2 pound rate of Furadan increased the yield by 2.0 tons while the 2 pound rate of Thimet increased the average yield by .6 tons per acre.

There was also an advantage to the use of insecticide treated coated seed except in the case of the 6 oz rate of Thimet where the yield was reduced 4.1 tons per acre. The 2 and 4 oz rates of Thimet, however, increased the yield 1.4 tons over the normal coating with no insecticide added. The Furadan treatments did not affect the stand of beets and the yields ranged from 1.3 to 1.7 tons better than the untreated normal coated seed.

At the present time, the 1971 sugar and impurity results have not been received.


1971 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Volume 2, pages 86 - 87.


Red River Trade Corridor
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