Integrated pest‐management approaches in orchard, cereal and potato protection in Poland1

Abstract

With its total area of 312,683 km2 and a population of about 39 million people, the area of agricultural land per person in Poland is about 0.47 ha. The yields of basic crops are rather low and the losses due to pathogens, animal pests and weeds are high. The use of pesticides is about 1.0–1.3 kg a.i. per ha and this gives a good starting point for integrated pest management (IPM) in the production system of various crops. IPM in glasshouse crops reached the level of 500 ha per year. An IPM approach against codling moth (Cydia pomonella) in orchards allowed a reduction by 70% in the number of insecticide treatments. In the case of apple scab (Venturia haequalis), the IPM approach allowed a reduction in the number of fungicide treatments by 30% on an area of 100,000 ha. In respect to small grains, the IPM approach concerns rational use of fungicides and herbicides in winter wheat and barley. In potato protection, the IPM approach mainly concerns Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), which at present is controlled by chemical insecticides on 77% of the potato area. Special research and demonstration IPM programmes sponsored by USDA/AID in Central and Eastern Europe will be operational during 1992/1995 and will concern orchards (apple, pear), small grains (wheat, barley) and potatoes.