Influence of treatment of soil with carbofuran on the subsequent performance of insecticides against cabbage root fly (Delia radicum) and carrot fly (Psila rosae)

A sandy loam soil was treated with 2·5 kg carbofuran/ha on each of five occasions between May and October 1984. In 1985, the field performance of benfuracarb, carbofuran, carbosulfan, chlorfenvinphos and furathiocarb against cabbage root fly (Delia radicum) and carrot fly (Psila rosae) was studied in this soil and in identical but previously untreated soil by applying exponentially increasing doses of granular formulations to radish and carrots at drilling. Chlorfenvinphos reduced numbers of larvae of both pests by >90% in both soils but the performance of all the carbamates was significantly worse in the previously treated soil than in the previously untreated soil. Dazomet, a partial soil sterilant, was applied to part of the experimental area in October 1985 and the performance of aldicarb, carbofuran, carbosulfan, chlorfenvinphos and thiofanox against cabbage root fly was assessed in 1986. The efficiency of aldicarb and chlorfenvinphos was not affected by any of the pre-treatments but that of carbofuran and carbosulfan was reduced in all the pre-treated soils, including the soil treated with dazomet. Carbofuran residues in radish were detectable only in plants grown in previously untreated soil. In laboratory incubations, a dustless base formulation of carbofuran was degraded more quickly in pre-treated than in untreated soils but a granular formulation was degraded more slowly and at a similar rate in both soils.