Cutworm Control in Asparagus, 1983

Abstract

Plots were established in a grower’s field in Oceana Courty, MI, one of the major asparagus growing regions of the state. The light, sandy soil in this field had supported heavy cutworm infestations in the past. Cutworm counts were taken in Oct. 1982 by scraping 2 inches of top soil around 30 crowns. An average of six cutworms per crown was recorded. On 27 Apr., cutworm counts were done as before and an average of only one cutworm per crown was found. Apparently the overwintering mortality was quite high. Plots were established in a heavily infested portion of the same field and were 6 rows wide by 60 ft. long. Treatments were arranged in a complete randomized design with three replications per treatment. Sampling in the plots just before treatment on 16 May yielded an average of two cutworms per crown. The following day, counts of dead larvae per 40 row-ft from the two center rows (80 total row ft per plot) and number of crowns in each plot was recorded. One week later (23 May), damaged spears and number of live larvae were counted on three per plot.