Integrated Pest Management Plots Research Articles

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THREE TOMATO PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Fresh tomatoes grown under three production cropping systems at the Rutgers University's Snyder Research and Extension Farm were compared for differences in yields, gross revenues, production costs and net returns. Maximum marketable yields were obtained using the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system, followed closely by the conventional system. Yields of the organic plots were only 54 percent of the conventional yield. However, the organic plots yielded only 17 percent culls whereas the IPM plots yielded 37 percent culls. Fifty-two percent of the organic tomatoes were U.S. Number Ones, while only one third of the produce from the other two systems were U.S. Number One grade. Organic plots had lower chemical costs, but substantially higher labor costs than the other two systems.

Author index

An integrated pest management (IPM) programme for apple involving selective insecticides applied in response to monitoring and using non-acaricidal fungicides was compared with a routine ‘calendar’ broad-spectrum programme over a 5-year period. This IPM system optimized the effect of natural enemies. From the second season onwards the predacious phytoseiid mite, Typhlodromus pyri, reached sufficient numbers to regulate Panonychus ulmi at low, non-damaging numbers. T. pyri also suppressed apple rust mite, Aculus schlechtendali, over most of this period. No acaricides were required on the IPM plots in the last 3 years of the trial. Small reductions in the number of insecticide/acaricide applications were made on the IPM plots but insect damage to fruit, especially by lepidopterous larvae, was higher than on the broad-spectrum plots. Several pests now rarely seen in commercial orchards built up on IPM plots and required specific treatments. The results are discussed in relation to further development of a commercially applicable IPM system.

Trials of an integrated pest management programme based on selective pesticides in English apple orchards

An integrated pest management (IPM) programme for apple involving selective insecticides applied in response to monitoring and using non-acaricidal fungicides was compared with a routine ‘calendar’ broad-spectrum programme over a 5-year period. This IPM system optimized the effect of natural enemies. From the second season onwards the predacious phytoseiid mite, Typhlodromus pyri, reached sufficient numbers to regulate Panonychus ulmi at low, non-damaging numbers. T. pyri also suppressed apple rust mite, Aculus schlechtendali, over most of this period. No acaricides were required on the IPM plots in the last 3 years of the trial. Small reductions in the number of insecticide/acaricide applications were made on the IPM plots but insect damage to fruit, especially by lepidopterous larvae, was higher than on the broad-spectrum plots. Several pests now rarely seen in commercial orchards built up on IPM plots and required specific treatments. The results are discussed in relation to further development of a commercially applicable IPM system.

Integrated Control of the Tomato Fruitworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Other Lepidopterous Pests on Fresh-Market Tomatoes in Southern California1

Studies were conducted toward the development of an integrated control program for the tomato fruitworm and other lepidopterous pests on summer plantings of fresh-market tomatoes in southern Califomia in 1978 and 1979. An integrated pest management (IPM) program, which consisted of weekly applications of Dipel ( Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. kurstaki ) plus twice-weekly releases of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, was compared with weekly applications of methomyl (commercial program). The effect of the two programs on the vegetable leafminer, predators, and egg parasitization also was noted. Mean total fruit injured by all lepidopterous pests was 0.7, 1.6, and 7.1% in the commercial, IPM, and untreated control plots, respectively, in 1978, and 0.3, 0.9, and 5.3% in 1979. These differences were significant ( P < 0.05) both years. There were no significant differences in fruit yield or size between the two treatment programs in either year. Methomyl adversely affected predator populations, host eggs, and egg parasitization by T. pretiosum , whereas Dipel did not. Methomyl also significantly increased vegetable leafminer populations, whereas Dipel did not. The effect of methomyl on host eggs (ovicidal) and T. pretiosum was restricted primarily to those present at time of application.