Impact of Six Insecticide-based Arthropod Pest Management Strategies on Pecan Yield, Quality, and Return Bloom Under Four Irrigation/Soil-fertility Regimes

Abstract

The spectrum of activity of six insecticide-based arthropod pest management strategies was measured for fruit and foliage arthropod pests of pecans. Treatments that controlled the pecan aphid complex below peak population levels of 50 aphids per terminal (current year's stem growth) improved foliage retention in the fall over less effective treatments. Improved foliage retention in the fall was positively correlated with the number of pistillate flower clusters set during the following spring in both irrigated and nonirrigated trees. Improved aphid and mite control was associated with larger nut size in nonirrigated but not in irrigated trees. Irrigation and soil fertility levels did not effect the relative abundance of pecan aphids or mites.