SINTOMATOLOGIA E MÉTODOS ALTERNATIVOS DE CONTROLE DE PRAGAS NO VIVEIRO FLORESTAL DA UFAM

Abstract

Pest management in forest nurseries is crucial for ensuring the health of seedlings and the success of reforestation projects. At the forest nursery of the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), the pursuit of sustainable methods led to the evaluation of six alternative control techniques and one chemical treatment. The methods investigated included the insecticide FORTH (deltamethrin), mineral oil, onion extract, neem oil (Azadirachta indica), garlic extract, and garlic macerate. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of these methods in reducing the infestation of scale insects (Dactylopius coccus) on Cenostigma tocantinum seedlings. A 7 x 3 factorial design was used, with 42 seedlings divided among treatments and infestation levels (high, medium, and low). Weekly observations and infestation analyses revealed that treatments with FORTH, mineral oil, and onion extract were the most effective, reducing infestation to low levels in 28.57% of the seedlings. In contrast, neem oil and garlic extract showed low effectiveness, with high infestation intensity persisting. This study demonstrates that alternative methods, such as plant extracts and mineral oils, can offer viable and sustainable solutions for pest control in forest nurseries, contributing to more ecological management practices.