Abstract
Invasive slugs generate significant problems in the area of horticultural and agricultural production. Despite the multitude of methods to reduce the pest population, including preventive, mechanical, agrotechnical, cultivation, biological, and chemical treatments, no effective plant protection strategy has been developed so far. In this paper, a solution based on modified non-woven fabric with bioactive molluscicidal properties using the extract of tansy flower, metaldehyde, and abamectin (Vertigo® 018 EC) was proposed. All modified mats show significant anti-slug properties in comparison to control, and molluscicidal properties depend on the type of active substance. Non-woven modified with commonly used metaldehyde demonstrated fast action against slugs and presents the highest efficiency. The effectiveness of non-woven mats with Vertigo® 018 EC is lower than for the mats with metaldehyde but higher than for the mats modified with tansy flower extract. The proposed solution will enable removing and neutralization of molluscicide from the fields, after the efficient pest control, according to circular economy principles. Moreover, it may allow for better control of the molluscicide release to the environment in comparison to widely used pellets, and contribute to the virtual protection of plants against invasive slugs.
Highlights
The results clearly indicate that the fibres are uniform with a size of 20.4 ± 0.9 μm
Based on the results of anti-slug test it was concluded that molluscicidal properties depend on the type of active substance
Non-wovens modified with commonly used metaldehyde demonstrated fast action against slugs and presents the highest efficiency
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The increasing awareness of the need to protect the natural environment drives the search for novel solutions in the field of agrotextiles and pest control. One of the significant problems for agrocenoses is the risk caused by terrestrial gastropods, which generates significant problems in the area of European horticultural and agricultural production [1,2,3]. It was calculated that the lack of effective slug control products may cost around GBP
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