Application method affects results obtained from pesticide treatments of sugarcane billets during planting

Authors: HOY, JEFFREY - LSU Agcenter; White, Paul

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/16/2021
Publication Date: 11/16/2021
Citation: Hoy, J.W., White Jr, P.M. 2021. Application method affects results obtained from pesticide treatments of sugarcane billets during planting. Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 41:26-36.

Interpretive Summary: Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is produced in 22 parishes in Louisiana and is the most valuable row crop in the state, contributing over $2 billion in annual economic impact. In Louisiana, sugarcane has traditionally been planted as whole stalks rather than as stalk sections, or billets, as is done in most sugarcane producing countries. A combination of environmental and biological stress adversely affect stand establishment and winter survival of planted billet cane. In other studies, dip treating billets in certain pesticides improved establishment and yields. However, spray application is more likely to be adopted by growers and therefore was examined in this study. These field experiments examined both dip and spray-treated billets. Pesticide treatments, particularly a combination of a fungicide and an insecticide, improved sugarcane stand establishment of billets when applied as a dip, but not when spray applied in the furrow. Future research is needed on spray application methods that will increase billet coverage and improve the efficacy of pesticides applied to billets when planting.

Technical Abstract: Plantings of billets are more adversely affected by an interaction between stalk rots and environmental stress than whole stalk plantings under Louisiana climatic conditions. Research has determined that dip treatment of billets with some certain pesticides improves stand establishment and yield. However, dip application can be difficult to achieve with commercial planting. Therefore, dip application was compared to in-furrow spray application of pesticides in field experiments comparing billet and whole stalk planting. Pesticides were applied to billets singly and in combinations at planting and effects on stand establishment and yield were determined in plant cane and ratoon crops. The efficacy of treatments was affected by application method. Pesticide treatments, particularly a combination of a fungicide with the insecticide, thiamethoxam, improved stand establishment of billets and provided yield comparable to or better than whole stalks when applied as a dip but not when applied as an in-furrow spray over the top of billets prior to covering. Further research is needed on spray application methods that will increase coverage and improve the efficacy of pesticides applied to billets at planting.