Comparison of cultural and chemical methods for the control of sorghum shoot fly.

Field tests were carried out in New Delhi, India, in 1974-75 to compare the cultural control method the sorghum pest against Atherigona soccata Rond., which involves a higher rate of seed application and the removal of damaged seedlings, with the chemical control method, which involves seed treatment with carbofuran. Observations on oviposition showed that significantly more eggs were laid on seedlings emerging from carbofuran-treated seed, which was attributed to the healthier state of these seedlings. The number of dead hearts formed in seedlings from untreated seed was significantly greater than in those from seeds that had been treated with carbofuran at a rate of 8 or 10 kg/ha; however, these 2 treatments did not differ significantly from a further treatment in which a 6:4 mixture of treated and untreated seed was used. Grain and fodder yields were found to be much higher from carbofuran-treated plots. It was concluded that the cultural control method was ineffective under conditions of heavy A. soccata infestation and that a 6:4 mixture of carbofuran-treated (at a rate of 10 kg/ha) and untreated seed could reduce damage considerably and result in higher yields