Transcript Unit 5 Crop Management

Preventing crop loss from any factor is
the goal of crop management. The
basis of a good crop management
system is good soil that produces
healthy plants. Once that is
established, controls for insects,
disease and weeds can be used on an
as -needed basis, as they interfere
with production of the crop.
Primary method of control
 Good Soil !!!!!
 Good soil management- air, water,
organic matter, minerals, tillage
 Plants can handle some damage-
take a whole farm approach
Organic management
 Prevent problems by building healthy soil
1.
2.
3.
4.
which makes healthy plants
Scout for problems
Identify the problem
Determine if intervention is necessary
Use the appropriate control method
Organic methods of insect control
 Attracting predators
 Repellants
 Barriers
 Trap Crop
 Killing
Attracting predators
 Most control is by predators.
 Attract predators by providing food, water and
shelter for them.
 Unmown areas of plants give predators a
place to live.
 Nectar bearing plants will attract predators.
Repellants
 Make the plant unappetizing to the predator.
 Garlic oil is widely available.
 Tansy can be made into a repellant.
 Pepper spray.
 Repellants can be homemade.
Barriers
 Floating row cover.
 Allows water and most sunlight through.
 Must be securely anchored to do its job.
 Weeds will grow under cover – must check
regularly to control weeds.
 Will warm the soil slightly.
 Fencing for four legged pests.
Trap crop
 A trap crop is one the bugs prefer to the main
crop.
 It is planted to “trap” the pests and keep them
away from the main crop.
 Most effective for pests of intermediate
mobility.
 Best if it is not too much trouble or take up too
much room.
Classification of insects
 Chewing Insects
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Bites off, chews and swallows
plant parts
Generally controlled by stomach
poisons
 Sucking Insects
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Pierces the outer layer of the cells
and sucks the sap from the cells
Generally controlled by contact
poisons
CABBAGE BUTTERFLY
CABBAGE & SOYBEAN
LOOPERS
LOOPER DAMAGE
BEAN LEAF BEETLE
BEAN LEAF BEETLE DAMAGE
MEXICAN BEAN BEETLE
COLORADO POTATO BEETLE
COLORADO POTATO BEETLE
LARVA
APHIDS
CUTWORMS
PARASITIC WASP PUPAE ON
HORNWORM
PARASITIC WASP
LADY BEETLES
LACEWINGS
PRAYING MANTIDS
Disease
 Weak unhealthy plants most likely to become
diseased.
 Disease caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi.
 Bacteria and viruses cause relatively few
diseases and there is no treatment.
 Fungi cause most disease – some methods
of control.
Fungal diseases
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Powdery Mildew – milk spray
Fusarium – biodiversity in soil
Rusts
Scab
Root rots
Find when it is most vulnerable to control.
Much easier and more effective to prevent
disease than try to treat the disease.
Powdery mildew on corn (fungus)
Bacterial wilt of tomatoes
Tobacco Mosaic Virus on tomatoes
Disease Control
 Prevent problems by building healthy soil
which makes healthy plants
1. Scout for problems
2. Identify the problem
3. Determine if intervention is necessary
4. Use the appropriate control method
Companion Planting
 Crops that are grown in close proximity.
 Choose crops that don’t compete – grow
differently and are not antagonist.
 Reasons for companion planting:
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Increase crop production
Decrease pest populations
Decrease soil borne disease
Examples of companion plants
 Beans on corn stalks
 Radishes and carrots or spinach
 Marigolds in tomatoes
 Tomatoes and carrots
Crop rotations
 Rotations done to prevent build up of
diseases and pests in the soil.
 Eight year rotation great but even a two year
rotation better than none.
 Divide crops by families and rotate as a block.
 Consult Eliot Coleman on order of rotation.