Feasibility of eletrohydrodinamic cotton mite control

Abstract

The study was carried out with the IAC-19 cotton plant variety during the years 1983/84, with the objective of comparing the efficiency of the electrodynamic "Electrodyn" sprayer (electrostatic energy, invented and patented by the Imperial Chemical Industries, Great Britain) with hydraulic manual pressure and tractor-driven spraying, for control of mites. Dicofol at 40%, 0.14% and 0.11% respectively for Electrodyn sprayer, tractor-driven conventional sprayer, and manual pressure sprayer was used. All of the treatments tested at field conditions showed the same efficiency (ultra-low volume (UBV) inclusively) in the control of Polyphagotarsonemus latus; no significant difference between them was observed. This fact, considering the manual pressure and tractor-driven sprayer procedures (with high volumes) points out the drastic reduction of the Electrodyn spray low-volume concentration - LVC - maintaining the same efficiency in the control of mites.