Key Takeaways:
- New research on strawberries reveals that Attune Agriculture’s Entrapment® delivers higher yields, even when insect kill counts are comparable or lower than traditional chemical or organic treatments.
- Entrapment outperformed both organic and chemical rotations in marketable yield, producing 195 lbs more per acre than organic treatments and 234 lbs more than chemical treatments.
- Economic impact of Entrapment was significant, offering growers up to $1,072 more per acre compared to chemical treatments and 16% cost savings over organic options.
- Entrapment’s performance highlights the complexity of plant health, with improved yield attributed to factors beyond pest mortality, including overall plant vigor.
- The product uses a physical mode of action with no phytotoxicity risk, aligning with integrated pest management goals and supporting sustainable crop protection.
Overview: New Study Evaluates Strawberry Pest Management Strategies
Attune Agriculture (Profile), a leader in hydrocolloid-based crop inputs, has released findings from a recent study conducted at Florida Ag Research in Thonotosassa, FL. The trial assessed the effectiveness of Entrapment®, the company’s EPA-registered insecticide, against standard chemical and organic pest management rotations in strawberry production—particularly targeting chili thrips, a persistent pest in Florida.
A Shift in Evaluation Metrics
The study challenges the conventional notion that higher insect mortality always equates to better crop outcomes. According to Dr. Ed Quattlebaum, Director of Product Development at Attune Agriculture, “Yield is often increased with the addition of Attune products, even in cases where traditional factors used to measure control, such as insect counts, do not seem dramatically different.”
Trial Results: Entrapment Improves Yield and Profitability
Entrapment Versus Organic and Chemical Rotations
The study compared three treatments:
- A standard chemical rotation
- A standard organic rotation
- A rotation using Entrapment insecticide
While the chemical rotation resulted in the highest insect mortality, Entrapment delivered the highest marketable yield, highlighting the importance of evaluating outcomes through an agronomic lens rather than solely pest control metrics.
Marketable Yield Findings
- Entrapment produced 195 lbs more strawberries per acre than the organic rotation—valued at $912 per acre.
- Compared to the chemical rotation, Entrapment yielded 234 lbs more per acre, increasing economic return by $1,072 per acre.
Entrapment’s Cost Efficiency and Mode of Action
Economic and Agronomic Advantages
The study further revealed that Entrapment is 16% more economical than the organic rotation in terms of input cost, compounding its value proposition for growers.
How Entrapment Works
Entrapment is based on Rhexalloid®, a proprietary ingredient that physically immobilizes pests by transforming tank mix droplets into micro-traps on the plant surface. Unlike chemical modes of action, this physical mechanism avoids phytotoxicity and is less likely to harm beneficial insects, making it suitable for integrated pest management programs.
Implications for Growers and Future Adoption
The findings suggest that yield-focused metrics may better align with grower priorities than traditional insect control measures alone. With increasing concerns over resistance, input costs, and environmental impact, products like Entrapment offer a promising alternative for boosting productivity and economic returns without compromising sustainability.
Dr. Quattlebaum concludes, “Plant health is multi-dimensional. Entrapment’s impact on yield reflects its broader role in supporting crop vitality, not just pest reduction.”
