Spinachpesticideapplication

Spinach Pesticide Application By Tim Braun
In the other two hours of Spinach Pest Control the methods of identifying, monitoring and the pest control
materials were discussed. During this hour of continuing education the methods used in the application of
the pest control materials used in spinach production will be discussed.
Preplant PesticideApplication
Fumigants should be used for pest control when other methods have been found to be ineffective. There
are three fumigants approved for spinach pest control. For this class I will use the trade names. Clean
Crop Metam Sodium (sodium methyldithlocarbamate anhydrous), Telone II ( 1,3-dichloropropene) and
Inline (1,3-dichloropropene w/ chloropicrin)
The fumigant, Clean Crop Metam Sodium, is used to control soil borne diseases, nematodes,
symphylids (garden centipedes) and many weed species. (Refer to label). Metam Sodium is a water
soluble liquid. After it is applied to the soil, the liquid becomes a fumigant (gas) that can control target
pests. The fumigant dissipates in a period of time and a spinach crop can be planted in the treated soil.
Metam Sodium can be applied in irrigation water. The label has specific instructions on the application of
Metam Sodium by sprinkler, drip and flood irrigation. The following information is taken from the Clean
Crop Metam Sodium label. The entire label must be read and understood by the applicator before use of
this product..
Metam Sodium can be applied mixed in liquid fertilizers. It can be injected, disk applied, with rotary tillers
or power mulchers.
The label rate for metam sodium is from 40 to 100 gallons per acre. The rate is based on the texture of
the soil. The heavier the soil the more Metam Sodium needed. Organic soils require the higher rate per
acre. The concentration of the pest population will determine the need for high or low gallons per acre. The
rate per acre should take into account the volume of soil treated. The application method used to mix the
material in the soil will decide how much volume is being treated.
The condition of the soil should be tilled to break up any clods. The soil moisture content should be
adequate to form a ball in the hand that breaks up easily. The soil should be from 40 degrees F. to 90
degrees F.. Temperatures above 90 degrees F. will result in product loss due to gas escape.
Vegetative residue in the soil should be reduced by allowing enough time for organic matter
decomposition. Heavy organic soils will require higher rates. Application through a sprinkler over an
existing cover crop is approved on the Metam Sodium label.
The sealing of Metam Sodium in the soil after application can be done with a light sprinkling of water. If
the material is sprayed on top of the soil and worked into the soil rollers should be used to seal the soil.
Tarping over the treated soil will help prevent gas escape of the applied Metam Sodium fumigant.
Shut off sprinkler applications when high winds occur. The water in the spray mist will contain enough
Metam Sodium to injure surrounding emerged crops. If strong odors occur during or after application the
application should be stopped until the source of the odor is found and corrected.
The personal protective equipment for handlers and applicators is explained in detail on the Clean Crop
Metam Sodium label and other approved labels.

Telone II is another approved liquid soil fumigant that can be applied preplant to spinach crops. It controls
nematodes, centipedes and some plant pathogens. Telone II is not recommended for weed control.
California requires the use of Telone II Ca. The label restrictions on application have differences to the
standard Telone II label. Read and follow all label directions.
Telone II and Telone II Ca cannot be used through irrigation systems. Telone II and Telone II Ca must be
injected to a depth of 12 inches or more below the soil surface. The chisel marks from injection must be
sealed by destroying them with ring rollers, mulchers or by re forming the beds over them. This is done to
prevent loss of Telone II to the atmosphere. Tarps to further seal the soil can be used, but the injection
marks must be destroyed before covering the soil with tarps.
The rates of Telone II should be 12 gallons per acre in mineral soil. When applying Telone II to muck or
peat soils the rate can be increased to 25 gallons of material per acre. Telone II should only be applied
when the soil temperatures are between 40 degrees F. to 80 degrees F.
The soil fumigant, Inline, is a liquid preplant fumigant used in spinach production. Inline is used to control
parasitic nematodes, centipedes, wireworms and some soil borne pathogens. Inline fumigant can only be
applied to the soil through surface or buried drip tape. Tarping is required and should be kept in place for
period of 14 days.
Inline cannot be mixed with other chemicals such as fertilizers or weed killers. The rates for Inline on
spinach are 13 to 20.5 gallons per acre in mineral soils. Inline is not recommended for peat or muck soils.
Read and follow label directions when applying Inline to Spinach.
RO-NEET 6-E is a liquid formulation herbicide used to kill weeds in spinach. It can be applied pre plant to
spinach crops in California. RO-NEET is not approved for use on spinach in the state of Arizona. RO-
NEET is taken up by the seed and shoots of germinating weeds. It stops germination of the seed and
shoot development. It will not control established or germinated weeds.
RO-NEET 6-E is a product of HELM AGRO US, INC. Use only according to the recommendations of the
RO-NEET 6-E label. RO-NEET 6-E has a CAUTION word label.
In California RO-NEET 6-E should be applied broadcast on the soil at the rate of 2/3 of a gallon material
per acre in 10 to 50 gallons of water with a boom sprayer set at 20 to 50 pounds pressure per square inch
.
RO-NEET 6-E should be incorporated to a mixing depth of 3 inches in the soil in California. Soil
incorporation implements have different operating depths with their own individual mixing depths. Be sure
to rely on the mixing depth not the operating depth of the implement for the soil incorporation of herbicides.

RO-NEET 6-E can be combined with water, liquid fertilizer or impregnated on label specified dry fertilizer.
When applied in water RO-NEET 6-E must be incorporated into the soil immediately.
When applied in liquid fertilizer, RO-NEET 6-E must be incorporated into the soil within 4 hours of
application. When applied impregnated on dry fertilizer RO-NEET 6-E must be incorporated into the soil
within the same day of application. If the soil is damp or wind conditions are over 15 MPH, incorporation of
RO-NEET 6-E applied in liquid fertilizer or impregnated on dry fertilizer must be incorporated immediately.
RO-NEET 6-E can also be incorporated into the soil for spinach with irrigation sprinklers in California,
Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington only. According to the RO-NEET 6-E label, the soil surface
should be dry and free from dew or incidental moisute to a depth of at least 1/2 inch before application.
The RO-NEET 6-E can be applied before or immediately after planting. Start spinkler irrigation immediately
after application. Incorporation should be completed within 36 hours after application using enough water to
penetrate to a depth in the soil of 3 to 4 inches.
Band application of RO-NEET 6-E can be used for spinach by reducing the rate from the amount needed
for the band width compared to solid coverage. This can be done by reducing the number of injection
shanks. An example would be: use 4 injector shanks per row for a band of 10 to 12 inches and 6 injector
shanks for a band of 15 to 18 inches.         Shanks should be set 2 1/2 to 3 inches apart and set to inject
RO-NEET 6-E at a 1 1/2 to 2 inch depth. Shanks should be staggered to avoid trash build up. To protect
the seed, place shanks 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches on either side of the drill row.
The RO-NEET 6-E label has directions on how to, how much and what kinds of fertilizer to mix or
impregnate when applied to spinach.
Ridomil Gold EC or Ridomil Gold Gr when applied as a soil application will control the diseases: damping
off, white rust and downy mildew.
Pre plant applications of Ridomil Gold EC Liquid or Ridomil Gold Granules can be made to spinach
crops. The Ridomil EC can be mixed with water or liquid fertilizer then applied to the surface of the soil at
the rate of 1 to 2 pints per acre. The granule formulation should be spread onto the surface of the soil at a
rate of 20 to 40 pounds per acre. Both materials should be incorporated and mixed into the top two inches
of soil.
Ridomil granules should not be allowed to contact the planted spinach seed.
If the Ridomil granules or EC formulation is not mechanically incorporated when applied at planting, the
Ridomil can be moved into the seed zone after planting with a sprinkler irrigation of 1 to 1 1/2 inches.
Both the granule and liquid formulations of Ridomil can be applied in bands to the soil surface. The width
of the bands of Ridomil applications should not be less than 7 inches. The labels for both Ridomil G and
Ridomil EC have formulas for the rates recommended at different band widths in the General Information
section of the label.
Admire 2 Flowable Insecticide and Admire Pro can be applied to spinach, but not for use on spinach
grown for seed unless allowed by state-specified supplemental labeling. The directions on the labels allow
the application with ground or chemigation methods. Do not apply Admire 2 Flowable Insecticide or
Admire Pro with aerial application equipment.
To be effective applications of Admire should be placed in the areas of the spinach seed or root system.
Admire should be placed where it will stay in an aqueous solution within the root zone of the plant.
Add water to the mix tank. Then add Admire while agitation is occurring. Keep mixture agitated to
prevent settling of the Admire. When mixing with other materials, add water; add wettable powders, then
Admire and other flowable materials and then emulsifiable materials last. Always confirm the label use of
any added pesticide or nutrient before mixing with Admire. Test a small amount for compatibility.
Admire mixtures can be applied with pressure sprayers in a narrow band directly below the seed row in
the bedding operation. With the planting operation Admire mixtures can be sprayed directly below or on
the seed.
A narrow band (2”or less) of Admire mixture can be sprayed over the seed line during planting then
incorporated within 24 hrs. with sufficient irrigation to a depth of 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water.
Admire mixtures may also be applied pre plant through the method of chemigation into the root zone
through low-pressure drip, trickle, micro-sprinkler or equivalent equipment.
Post Emergence Pesticide Applications On Spinach
Up to two sidedress applications of Ridomil Gold G or Ridomil Gold EC at a rate of 5 pounds per acre for
the control of White Rust and Downey Mildew is allowed.. Ridomil EC can be used at a rate of 1/4 pint per
acre. The Ridomil EC can be applied with water or liquid fertilizer.
The first application for White Rust and Downey Mildew should occur 21 days after planting or after the
first cutting. The additional sidedress application can be made after the next cutting of the spinach.
SPIN-AID is a selective herbicide for use in spinach that is grown for processing or seed. Applications of
SPIN-AID should be made when temperatures are below 75 degrees F. in order to prevent possible injury.
Do not apply SPIN-AID through any type of irrigation system. Read and follow label directions to avoid
injury to the spinach crop, the plant back crop and any neighboring crops.
Do not add additional wetting agents or other spray adjuvants to SPIN-AID.
Add sufficient water to fill the lines. Then add desired amount of SPIN-AID and the remaining quantity of
water. By pass agitation is sufficient. Prepare only enough spray solultion to last less than four hours.
By Ground: Apply 3 to 6 pints per acre in 11 to 22 gallons of water through a broadcast basis. By Air:
Apply 3 to 6 pints per acre in 5 to 20 gallons of spray per acre.
Aliette WDG should be applied by air or ground equipment to the foliage of spinach at the rate of 2.0 to
5.0 lbs. per acre in not less that 10 gallons of water per acre. Adding surfactants or foliar fertilizers to
Aliette WDG is not recommended. An alkaline buffer like Diammonium phosphate added at 5 #s to 5#s of
Aliette WDG or potassium carbonate added at 3#s to 5 #s of Aliette WDG can be used to raise the spray
solution to pH of 6.0. Do not exceed seven applications per season or apply within 3 days of harvest
POAST may be used for the control of grass weeds in spinach. Poast should be applied at a rate of 1.5
to 3.0 pints per acre, 15 days before harvest applied by air or ground. The label has thorough directions on
how, when and where Poast is to be applied to spinach. The label recommends the use of some specific
additives to be used with POAST.
These application mixing instructions apply to most of the approved pesticides for spinach pest control:
Air And Ground Application
!. Fill the mix tank to a recommended level with water before adding the pesticide.
2. Mix no more pesticides than needed for the immediate operation.
3. Thoroughly clean spray equipment before starting the spray operation.
4. Agitate the mixture before and during the spray operation. In some cases the label will require
mechanical agitation.
5. Flush the spray tank daily after use.
6. Apply rinsate to the site that has already been treated.
Always have an approved label with local use amendments available when applying pesticides. Read and
follow label directions for all pesticides.

   The use of trade names in this course is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not
a guarantee or warranty of the products named, and does not signify that they are approved to the
exclusion of others of suitable composition. Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the
manufacturer’s label.

Acknowledgements:
http://www.cdms.net/pfa/LUpdateMsg.asp Various Labels
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.spinach.html
UC IPM Online University of California . Agriculture and Natural Resources
How to Manage Pests Spinach
Authored by University of California faculty, specialists, and farm advisors, produced and edited by IPM
Education and Publications, University of California Statewide IPM Program. Guidelines Coordinator:
Barbara Ohlendorf; Technical Editor: Mary Louise Flint.
http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/NJspinach.html