Development and economic evaluation of an IPM program for fresh market tomato production in Mexico

Abstract

An integrated pest management (IPM) program based on intensive sampling, parasite releases, use of the mating disruption technique, and applications of microbial pesticides and abamectin was developed for the fresh market tomato industry in Sinaloa, Mexico. The IPM program for tomatoes was compared with conventional practices and an unmanaged control in each of three major agricultural valleys in autumn and winter crops, and in two valleys for spring plantings. The amount of marketable fruit production was similar for all treatments in the autumn plantings, but significantly higher in the IPM program during the winter and spring plantings. The densities of Liriomyza sativae Blanchard and Keiferia lycopersicella (Walsingham) eggs, larvae and adults were substantially reduced in the IPM treatment. Percent fruit damage by Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), Heliocoverpa zea (Boddie) and Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) was generally higher in the IPM treatment (4.2–10.9%) as compared with the conventional treatment (0.9–3.7%). However, the percent fruit damage by K. lycopersicella was significantly reduced in the IPM treatments (6.49–30.4%) vs. the conventional treatments (4.65–84.2%) in the winter and spring plantings. Net profits (value of fruit at harvest minus the cost of control) were substantially higher in the lower input IPM plots than in conventional treatments. In the autumn, net profits ranged from US$304 to US$579 ha −1 higher in the IPM treatment for carton values of US$5–US$11, respectively. In the winter and spring plantings, only the IPM approach was profitable. The IPM program offers substantial, long-term benefits in comparison with the conventional approach. Not only was the cost of the IPM program considerably less, but it: (1) reduced the potential for pesticide resistance development; (2) reduced the possibility of potential mammalian toxicity or non-target effects by using less toxic pesticides that are specific in activity; (3) provided less chance for fruit contamination or environmental damage.