Agricultural Uses

The efficacy of chlorpyrifos has been tested under both laboratory and field conditions using a variety of formulations. The chemical is effective primarily by contact but may also kill target pests through ingestion and by vapor action. Chlorpyrifos has generally exhibited short residual activity on plant foliage, but it can be effective for several weeks in turfgrass thatch and on surfaces not exposed to direct sunlight. In addition, chlorpyrifos has been shown to be effective for up to several months to years in soil, depending on the rate applied.

Agricultural pest control represents the major use pattern for insecticides containing chlorpyrifos. Foliar sprays may be applied by ground or aerial equipment depending on the crop type to control a wide variety of surface feeding insects. Aerial application of chlorpyrifos products is a common method of application for cotton, sorghum, corn, alfalfa and wheat. Soil-incorporated applications are used for control of root-damaging insect larvae attacking such crops as corn, tobacco, sugar beets and onions. Orchard uses may involve either foliar or trunk applications of chlorpyrifos products.

Most Common Usage of Chlorpyrifos in Agricultural Pest Control

Alfalfa: Products containing chlorpyrifos are widely used and highly effective against the primary insect pests of alfalfa. These pests include alfalfa weevil, leafhoppers, aphids and Lepidoptera pests.

Banana: Products containing chlorpyrifos are often used in bananas for general pest control.

Barley: Chlorpyrifos containing products are used in Latin America to control armyworms, cutworms, green peach aphid, and English grain aphid.

Beans: Products containing chlorpyrifos are applied to control leafhoppers, lima bean pod borer, hairstreaks, and whiteflies.

Citrus: Products containing chlorpyrifos are widely used in citrus for control of Mediterranean fruit fly, scale, mealybug, citrus rust mite, and various Lepidoptera.

Coffee: Chlorpyrifos containing products are effective against the coffee berry borer and coffee leafminer.

Cole Crops: Chlorpyrifos products are applied for control of aphids and various Lepidoptera.

Corn: Products containing chlorpyrifos are widely used for the control of soil and foliar insect pests of corn. Pre-plant incorporated applications of a liquid chlorpyrifos formulation are highly effective against armyworm, cutworm, wireworms and white grubs. Pre-emergent and post-emergent applications of this formulation are effective against rootworm, lesser cornstalk borer and cutworms.

Cotton: Cotton leafworm, cotton bollworm, tobacco budworm, plantbugs, Argentine cotton stainer, cotton leaf perforator, aphids, and mites are effectively controlled with formulations of chlorpyrifos

Pastures: Foliar applications for spittlebugs and grasshoppers are made with products containing chlorpyrifos.

Pepper: Products containing chlorpyrifos are used to control pepper weevil, armyworm, and leafminer.

Pome Fruit (apples and pears): Chlorpyrifos containing products are effectively used for control of wooly apple aphid, Brazilian apple leafroller, scales, bagworms, and mites.

Potato: Products containing chlorpyrifos are used to control black cutworm, rootworm, and aphids.

Soybean: Chlorpyrifos containing products are used in soybean to control velvetbean caterpillar and Stemborer.

Sorghum: Sorghum midge and armyworm are common insect pests controlled by chlorpyrifos containing products.

Stone Fruit (peaches, nectarines, plum, etc.): Products containing chlorpyrifos are widely used for control of different scale species and for plum fruit moth control.

Sugar cane: Products containing chlorpyrifos are used to control different armyworm species, grass loopers, and froghoppers.

Tomato: Foliar applications of products containing chlorpyrifos are made to control tomato fruit borer and leafminer.

Wheat: A variety of common armyworm and cutworm species are controlled with products containing chlorpyrifos as well as lesser cornstalk borer, green peach aphid, grain aphid, and greenbugs.