Tank mixture of pesticides for Spodoptera frugiperda control in maize with triflumuron

Abstract

Nowadays, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of tank mixture of pesticides on pest chemical control in maize crops, however the farmers are often using these mixtures, without any technical support. The current study focused on assessing some pesticide mixtures to control Spodoptera frugiperda with triflumuron in a conventional corn hybrid. Moreover, this experiment aimed to assess likely plant physiological effects, as well as physical-chemical characteristics of these tank mixes. To this end, four treatments were carried out in a randomized block design with five replications, being repeated in two seasons. Treatments consisted of different pesticide mixtures, such as insecticide (INS) + adjuvant (ADJ); INS + ADJ + fungicide (FUN); INS + ADJ + FUN + foliar fertilizers (FF); control (Ctrl). The treatments underwent analyses of mixture physical-chemical characteristics, sampled caterpillar number and size, leaf gas exchange (IRGA), and amount of chlorophyll a and b. Spray liquid characteristics changed with used mixture. Fertilizer addition caused major changes in spray liquid properties as increasing pH and electrical conductivity. No effect was observed by mixing azoxystrobin, cyproconazole, zinc oxide and manganese sulfate to triflumuron concerning control effectiveness of Spodoptera frugiperda in the corn plants. Conversely, each pesticide mixture had a distinct effect on plant physiological variables.