Developing and implementing an integrated pest/disease management in apple for smallholder farms in Yantai, China

Abstract

Yantai is one of the main apple production areas in China; however, apple production in Yantai is severely hampered by many pests and diseases. In this region, most apple are grown by smallholder farmers. To improve pest and disease management with minimal pesticide use, we developed an integrated pest/disease management specifically designed for apple production where fruit bagging practice is adopted by smallholder farmers to protect fruit from pest and pathogen attacks. This new management (called ‘164’ IPM approach) was developed from both published and local empirical knowledge on key pests and pathogen. This approach includes one set of ecological management measures throughout the season, six key periods for scheduled application of pesticides, and four periods where management is based on predicted pest/disease risks. Field evaluation showed that this management approach is simple and practical for use by smallholder farmers and can effectively manage key pests and pathogens, and reduce pesticide input by about 40% whilst increasing income by 5%. Currently, this management approach is being promoted and adopted by smallholder farms in Yantai, and will be further expanded for use in other regions considering relevant pests/diseases and climatic characteristics.