Effect of daily floor treatment with sodium bisulfate on the fly population of horse stalls.

This research article looks into the impact of daily treatment with sodium bisulfate on the number of flies in horse stalls. The researchers found that this substance, when applied in varying quantities, effectively reduced the fly population in most of the barns studied.

Research Methodology

• The experiment took place in 12 privately-owned horse barns located in southeastern Pennsylvania.
• Three different application rates of sodium bisulfate were used: 2.3 kg/stall, 1.1 kg/stall, and 0.5 kg/stall.
• At each farm, sodium bisulfate was applied to two or three stalls while one or two stalls were left untreated to serve as controls.
• The farm personnel applied sodium bisulfate to the designated stalls on a daily basis over a week period.
• Fly tapes, used to catch and count the number of flies, were hung in the same places within the treated and control stalls.
• Every day, for 7 days, the fly tapes from the day before were removed and replaced. The flies on each tape were counted and noted.

Research Findings

• After applying 2.3 kg of sodium bisulfate per stall, there was a noteworthy decrease in the number of flies in the treated stalls compared to the control stalls on nine out of the 12 farms.
• With the application of 1.1 kg per stall, six out of nine farms experienced a significant decrease in fly populations in the treated stalls compared to the control ones.
• Lastly, when 0.5 kg per stall was used, three out of four farms showed a significant reduction in the fly numbers in the treated stalls as opposed to the control ones.

Conclusion

• The results of the study indicate that sodium bisulfate can be an effective means of controlling the fly population in horse barns but effectiveness might be dependent on the quantity applied.