Targeting the “root” of the problem: Enhanced bifenthrin formulations for soil insect control

Soil applied insecticides provide valuable root protection during the crop’s most vulnerable stages. Bifenthrin, when applied banded or in-furrow, can be used to control corn rootworm, cutworm, armyworm, wireworm and other soil insect pests.  In some cases, growers want to apply bifenthrin in combination with a starter fertilizer at planting.  In this study, a fertilizer-compatible liquid bifenthrin SC was developed and evaluated.  The liquid SC formulation is easy to handle, produces no dust at planting, and can be tank-mixed with a compatible fungicide. In order to demonstrate fertilizer compatibility, efficacy, and yield enhancement, field trials were conducted in 2014 and 2015. Fertilizer-compatible bifenthrin SC was applied in-furrow as a spray band at planting, mixed with water or liquid fertilizer. The product had excellent fertilizer compatibility and significantly decreased rootworm damage.  While soil-applied insecticides provide an important level of protection they may not travel deep enough in soil to adequately control some insect pest populations. To combat this, Vive Crop Protection has developed a second, different bifenthrin SC formulation with enhanced  soil mobility in order to improve control of deeper dwelling pests. To test mobility of the active ingredient, soil columns were packed with either sandy or silty loam. The formulation was added to the top of a saturated soil column and then exposed to an artificial rain event.  Samples were analyzed at 1cm increments in order to determine mobility within the column. This new formulation significantly improved penetration to the target soil depth as compared to commercially available products.