Arthur Hawkins

Effect of tetrachloronitrobenzene (fusarex) on emergence and yield of potatoes. Part III. — Northeast

SummarySeed potatoes of the Katahdin, Kennebec, and Pungo varieties were treated with Fusarex dust containing 6% tetrachloronitrobenzene at three dates in Maine during 1961–62 storage season. In 1962, these chemically treated seed potatoes were planted in uniform tests and compared with seed stocks that had been desprouted once and also with untreated seed tubers. Cooperators in Maine, Long Island, and New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New Brunswick, Canada recorded plant emergence and yield data at each location.Treatment of seed potatoes with Fusarex delayed initial plant emergence of all varieties at all locations except in Maine and Canada where Fusarex treatment increased emergence of the Pungo variety as compared to untreated seed. Total emergence varied by variety and location.Date of seed treatment with Fusarex did not affect emergence significantly. Emergence of desprouted seed tubers was not significantly lower than untreated or chemically treated seed at most locations.Treatment of seed with Fusarex decreased yields of tubers in Pennsylvania and on Long Island. At all other locations yields were slightly better when seed had been treated with Fusarex. No significant statistical differences in yields occurred between treatments at any of the five test locations when varieties and locations were aceraged.ResumenSemillas de papas de las variedades Katahdin, Kennebec y Pungo fueron tratadas en tres diferentes fechas con polvo “Fusarex” al 6% del producto ativo, tetraclorobenceno, durante la estación de almacenamiento. (1961–62) en Maine.En 1962, las semillas fueron plantadas en pruebas uniformes y comparadas e ntre las que recebieron tratamiento quimico. Las que no recebieron y entre semillas almacenadas que tenian sido deshijadas una vez. Cooperativistas en Maine, Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania y New Brunswick, Canada, reuniron dados sobre la germinación y rendimiento de las plantas en cada localidad.El tratamiento de las semillas con “Fusarex” retardó la germinación de todas las variedades, y en todas las localidades, excepto en Maine y en Canada. En donde el tratamiento con “Fusarex” estimuló de germinación de la variedad Pungo, cuando esta fué comparada con semillas no tratadas. Las fechas de los tratamientos de las semillas con “Fusarex” no afectaron significativamente la germinación.En la mayoria de las localidades la germinación de las semillas deshijadas no fué significativamente más baja que la de las semillas no tratadas, o en las tratadas quimicamente.El tratamiento quimico de las semillas con “Fusarex” reducció la cosecha en Pennsylvania y en Long Island.En todas las otras localidades las cosechas fueron ligeramente superiores, cuando las semillas habian sido tratadas con “Fusarex.” En minguna de las localidades, las cosechas obtenidas en los diferentes tratamientos estudiados, fueroo estadisticamente siguificativos, cuando variedades y localidades fueron comparadas.

Long term effects of preplant fumigation of potato fields

The application of nematicides resulted in increased potato yields, and populations ofPratylenchus penetrans were lower for 3 years after application; but longevity of benefits of fumigating potato fields varied with the kind and amount of nematicide, application methods and with growing conditions after fumigation. Fumigation of two fields in the fall of 1965 with Vorlex, Telone, D-D, and mixtures of chloropicrin with Telone or D-D resulted in 70% to 90% control of the meadow nematode,P. penetrans, after two crops in one field, and 50% to 70% control after three crops in another. Yield increases of Kennebec potatoes averaged 42% and 16% in successive crops in the first field and yield increases of Katahdin potatoes averaged 13%, 22% and 16% in three successive crops in the other field. Fumigation resulted in 30 to 70% less vascular browning in tubers in the first two crops but there was no effect in the third crop. There was no effect on black scurf in any crop. Root injury varied proportionally with populations ofP. penetrans in roots in 1967. Populations ofP. penetrans regained injurious levels in three other fields after one crop when abundant root growth in moist 1967 followed spring fumigation with Telone and D-D. Under poor conditions for sealing of the soil following fumigation in the spring of 1968, counts ofP. penetrans collected at different soil depths after fumigation showed excellent kill below 3 inches and poorer kill in the upper 2 inches of soil.ResumenLa aplicación de nematicidas dió mayores rendimientos de papas y las populaciones dePratylenchus penetrans permanecieron más bajas durante 3 años después de la aplicación; sinembargo la duración de los efectos de la fumigación de los campos de papa variaron con el tipo y cantidad de nematicida, métodos de aplicación ye con las condiciones del crecimiento después de la fumigación. La fumigación de dos campos en otoño de 1965 con Vorlex, Telone, D-D, y mezclas de cloropicrina con Telone o D-D dieron 70% a 90% control del nematodo de pradera,P. penetrans, después de dos cosechas en un campo y 50% a 70% control del nematodo después de tres cosechas en otro. Incrementos de rendimiento de papas Kennebec promediaron 42% y 16% en cosechas cosechas sucesivas en el primer campo y los incrementos en rendimiento de papas Katahdin promediaron 13%, 22% y 16% en tres cosechas sucesivas en el otro. La fumigación dió 30 a 70% menos pardeo vascular en tubérculos en las dos primeras cosechas pero no tuvo efecto alguno en la tercera cosecha. En ninguna de las cosechas hubo efecto alguno sobre la tiña negra. El daño a las raíces varió en proporción a las populaciones deP. penetrans en las raíces durante 1967. Populaciones deP. penetrans recobraron niveles dañinos en otros tres campos después de una cosecha cuando se produjo un abundante crecimiento de raíces en suélo húmedo después de la fumigación con Telone y D-D durante le primavera. Cuando el suelo no se compactó después de la fumigación en la primavera de 1968 recuentos deP. penetrans colectados a diferentes profundidades del suelo después de la fumigación indicaron una destrucción excelente de la plaga en niveles debajo de tres pulgadas y una destrucción menos efectiva en las dos pulgadas del suelo.

Effects of soil fumigation on verticillium wilt, nematodes and other diseases of potato roots and tubers

SummaryFumigation of soil was shown to affect subsequent potato crops by several different mechanisms.Rhizoctonia on roots and as black scurf on tubers,Verticillium wilt, pink eye of tubers, vascular browning in tubers, weeds and nematodes are involved. During the relatively dry years herein reported, fumigation gave a maximum yield increase of about 20%. Of the fumigants tested, Vorlex was the most effective in controlling the diseases evaluated. Vorlex at rates of 15 to 45 gal/acre increased yields for 2 years but did not reduce vascular browning the second year.V. albo-atrum was isolated from about 40% of tubers with vascular browning. Most isolates were the dark mycelial type with some microsclerotial isolates. Erosion of soil from untreated areas hastened reinfestation of fumigated soil by nematodes. Low rates of fumigants generally decreased occurrance of black scurf in tubers but 30 and 45 gal/acre of Vorlex increased black scurf slightly in tubers the first growing season.ResumenLa fumigación del suelo influencia las futuras cosechas de papas de varias maneras.Rhizoctonia sobre raíces y como sarna negra sobre los tubérculos, marchitez causada porVerticillium, manchas rosadas sobre tubérculos, coloración parda de tejidos vasculares en los tubérculos, malezas y nematodos, todos son afectados. Durante los años relativamente secos, durante los cuales se condujo el experimento, la fumigación dió un incremento máximo de 20% de rendimiento.Entre los fumigantes ensayados Vorlex fué el más efectivo en el control de las enfermedades mencionadas. Vorlex, aplicado a la tasa de 15–45 galones por acre, produjo un incremento de rendimiento durante 2 años pero no previno la coloración parda de tejidos vasculares durante el segundo año.V. albo-atrum fué aislado de más o menos 40% de tubérculos afectados con este pardeado vascular. La mayor parte de las aislados eran de tipo obscuro micelial incluyendo algunos microsclerocios. Suelos erosionados de las áreas no sujetas al tratamiento de fumigación aceleró la reinfestación de las áreas con nematodos. Tasas bajas de fumigantes redujeron, en general, la incidencia de sarna negra pero 30 y 45 gals/acre de Vorlex incrementaron ligeramente sarna negra en tubérculos durante la primera estación de crecimiento.

Row treatment of potatoes with systemics for meadow nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans) control

Granular aldicarb and carbofuran, systemic carbamate insecticides, were applied at 3 lbs active per acre to compare their control of the meadow nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans). These systemic pesticides were applied either in two bands 2–3 inches from both sides of and at the lower plane of the seed-piece or in one band 4–5 inches wide and 1/2 inch above the seed. Two months after planting, nematode populations were greatly reduced in soil and roots from plots treated with either chemical and with both placement methods. Aldicarb provided effective control longer into the growing season than did carbofuran. When compared with carbofuran, aldicarb-treated potao plants lived longer and produced a greater increase in yield over the untreated plots. Yield increases were greater when either systemic was applied in side bands than when placed over the seed.

Time, method of application, and placement of fertilizer for efficient production of potatoes in New England

Summary and conclusionsThe limited experimental results on time, method of application, and placement of fertilizer for potatoes on acid New England soils in agood state of productivity, indicate no increases in yields from methods other than applying all the fertilizer in the row in the standard sideplacement method described on page 108.The advantage of row application of the phosphorus carrier over other placements include reduction of phosphorus fixation onhighly acid potato soils and nearness to the young plant.However, with heavy rates of fertilizer, all applied in the row side bands, greater care must be exercised to obtain precise placement to avoid fertilizer injury to the seed and young plant.A more efficient method of row application of fertilizer for potatoes may be obtained by modifying the all-in-the-row side band placement method as follows:1.Where inactivation of high amounts of soluble aluminum in soils extremely toxic to potatoes is a problem, superphosphate may be used more efficiently by applying it in an eight-inch band over the shallow-covered seed instead of in side bands.2.Under Connecticut conditions it has been found that potatoes may be fertilized at less cost by side-dressing part of the nitrogen as ammonium nitrate when the plants are about 6 to 10 inches high. By side-dressing part of the nitrogen, less nitrogen is subject to leaching particularly on sandy soils, as compared with applying all the nitrogen at time of planting.

Potato planter attachment for distributing weighed quantities of fertilizers for plots

SummaryA fertilizer attachment for a potato planter which will distribute a weighed quantity of fertilizer for a given length of plot is described. The distributor distributes fertilizers or chemicals from a horizontal belt. By use of interchangeable sprockets four feet of belt travel will fertilize plots varying in length from a few feet up to 271 feet.One of its most important features is the fact that the attachment permits accurate side-band placement of fertilizer on short plots.The most recent improvement is the use of a quickly adjustable leveling device for leveling fertilizer to a uniform depth on the belt, and to insure that each foot of row receives the same amount of material. Techniques for using the attachment are given.

Row fumigation with Vorlex for control of a meadow nematode (Pratlylenchus penetrans) in potatoes

Row fumigation with Vorlex at 3 and 7 gallons per acre was applied for meadow nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans) control in potatoes. The material was applied 3 weeks before planting using one chisel per row at a depth of 8″, and ridged.The treatments resulted in a reduction in population ofP. penetrans in the soil and in the potato roots. On a soil with a relatively high population of meadow nematodes, row application of Vorlex at 3 and 7 gal per acre resulted in a yield increase of 10 and 14% respectively, and a lower incidence of tubers with vascular discoloration. By early October as many nematodes were present in treated rows as in untreated rows. Row fumigation is of value for only one potato crop.