Abstract
The wood ash from seven plant species (sessile oak, European beech, European hornbeam, silver fir, European spruce, common alder, and Spanish chestnut) was tested against Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris) as an environmentally acceptable alternative to chemical bait pellets. We carried out laboratory and semi-field experiments to assess the contact and barrier efficacy of selected wood ash. To demonstrate the contact efficacy, slugs were rolled in the wood ash. Geochemical analysis of wood ash was carried out as well. The highest concentrations of chemical compounds SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO and MnO and elements Ba, Co, Cs, Ga, Cu, Pb and Zn were identified in the most effective ashes (beech, oak, fir, and spruce) compared to the ineffective ashes (hornbeam, chestnut, black ader). The concentration of cobalt was comparably higher, while the concentration of molybdenum was comparably lower in the four most effective wood ashes. The results of our studies revealed that the wood ash of oak and spruce have great contact efficacy. The oak and beech wood ash showed the strongest barrier efficacy against slugs. In the semi-field trials, only 10% of the plants treated with oak wood ash were damaged by slugs. The oak wood ash is an efficient alternative for slug control, however, further studies and biotechnical enhancement are needed.
Highlights
The increased importance of slugs (Mollusca, Gastropoda) as pests became apparent worldwide [1,2].Slug numbers can vary considerably from year to year, and population modelling has shown this variation to be mainly driven by weather [3]
In areas with moist climates, terrestrial gastropods are of major importance in agricultural production [1,4]
(N = 10) mortality of the slugs treated with oak wood ash
Summary
The increased importance of slugs (Mollusca, Gastropoda) as pests became apparent worldwide [1,2]. Slug numbers can vary considerably from year to year, and population modelling has shown this variation to be mainly driven by weather [3]. The Spanish slug, A. vulgaris, is damaging plant shoots, roots, and fruit near the soil surface [1,5]. This pest can reach densities greater than 50 slugs per square meter in some vegetable and fruit crops [6] In arable fields across Europe, several slug species can cause severe damage to cultivated plants, including Deroceras reticulatum (Müller), Tandonia budapestensis Hazay, Arion distinctus Mabille, Arion hortensis (Férussac), Arion intermedius Normand, Arion rufus (L.), and Arion vulgaris Moquin-Tandon [1,5].
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