Farmers' knowledge,perceptions, and management practices of the new invasive pest,fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Ethiopia and Kenya

This paper reports for the first time on farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and management practices of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Ethiopia and Kenya. A survey of 343 smallholder maize farmers was conducted. Most farmers in Ethiopia and Kenya had knowledge about fall armyworm; they could identify it mainly during its larval stage. Furthermore, most farmers in Ethiopia (93%) and Kenya (97%) encountered damage by fall armyworm in their farms. They estimated an average of 32% crop damage in Ethiopia and 47.3% of crop damage in Kenya, with an estimated yield reduction between 0.8 to 1 tonnes/ha. Nearly half of the farmers relied on chemical insecticides to control this pest. The majority (60%) of the farmers in Kenya perceived that insecticides were not effective in controlling fall armyworm as compared to most farmers (46%) in Ethiopia who perceived that chemical spray is effective for the control of fall armyworm. In Ethiopia, 26% of the farmers combined handpicking larvae with insecticide sprays, whilst 15% of the farmers practiced only handpicking. The present study highlights the need to develop management strategies for fall armyworm based on farmers’ needs and priorities.     

Laboratory studies on the influence of the earthworm Eukerria saltensis (Beddard) (Oligochaeta: Ocnerodrilidae) on overlying water quality and rice plant establishment

Dense infestations of a peregrine oligochaete worm, Eukerria saltensis (Beddard), have been linked to rice crop failures in southern New South Wales, Australia. The influence of E. saltensis on water quality and rice plant establishment was investigated in a series of laboratory experiments using a flooded Riverina clay soil. Worm densities of 20 and 40 per container (2548 and 5096 worms/m², respectively) significantly increased water turbidity after 7 days incubation. Longer incubation periods led to turbidity levels of over 500 NTU being achieved (40 worms per container, 21 days incubation). Water pH was significantly reduced by densities of 10, 20, and 40 worms per container after 7 days under cyclical illumination, however in continuous darkness significant changes in pH related to worm density were only found after 21 days incubation. Nitrogen as NH₄+ and total phosphorus increased significantly in the overlying water in response to increasing worm densities after 21 days incubation, however nitrogen as nitrate/nitrite and soluble phosphorus did not. Algal production (measured as extracted chlorophyll a concentration) was unaffected by the worms, reflecting the low concentrations of available phosphorus in all treatments. Rice plants grown in containers with worms produced significantly longer and heavier shoots than control plants. Root systems were unaffected, and there was no evidence of root abrasion. Evaluation of rice seed stratification in the soil profile indicates that rice seeds can be passively transported below the soil surface by the feeding and tunnelling activity of E. saltensis. Our results suggest that E. saltensis impedes the establishment of aerially-sown rice crops primarily by increasing water turbidity. Plants respond to high turbidity by partitioning more of their growth into shoot production, and consequently become vulnerable touprooting through wave action, particularly as the soil loses compaction because of worm activity. Maintaining the lowest possible water levels during rice crop establishment has helped farmers to minimize these effects.     

Farmers' knowledge,perceptions, and farm-level management practices of citrus pests and diseases in Morocco

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - This paper documents pest management practices adopted by citrus farmers in two of the citrus-growing regions in Morocco. The survey data propose possible...     

Influence of pesticide information sources on citrus farmers' knowledge,perception and practices in pest management,Mekong Delta,Vietnam

In 1998-99, about 150 citrus farmers and 120 pesticide sellers were interviewed in Can Tho and Dong Thap province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Media, pesticide sellers and extension staff had different influences on farmers' pest perception and management practices depending on the region and intensity of the cropping system. Pesticide sellers were notified by about 95% of the farmers about their major pest problems, and the type of pesticides sold in their shop was primarily based on farmers' demand (87%) and then on company promotion (56%). Those farmers relying on pesticide sellers used more of the banned insecticide methyl parathion. Probably for fear of being accused of illegal practices, none of the pesticide sellers mentioned that they recommended this product or that farmers asked for it. In the intensive Tieu mandarin cropping system, media and extension activities increased farmers' knowledge of difficult-to-observe pests such as the citrus red mite Panonychus citri and thrips, Thrips sp. and Scirtothrips sp. Since extension was weak in sweet orange, those farmers exposed to media only reported the damage symptom of mites, not knowing the causal agent. Media alone seemingly did not suffice to acquaint farmers with these small organisms. Farmers getting advice from the media advertisements applied more different pesticide products and sprayed insecticides more frequently, whereas the extension has stimulated the use of acaricides and increased the number of both insecticide and fungicide sprays. The traditional practice of biological control with the ant Oecophylla smaragdina might be endangered with growing media influence and when extension activities remain confined to chemical pest control. Constraints and potentials of different information sources are discussed in relation to developing IPM programmes for citrus.     

A review on crop losses, epidemiology and disease management of rice brown spot to identify research priorities and knowledge gaps

Rice brown spot (BS) is a chronic disease that affects millions of hectares of rice every growing season, grown by some of the most resource-poor farmers. Despite its widespread occurrence and impact, much still needs to be understood about BS. Reported yield losses in relative terms vary widely from 4 to 52 %. However, accurate, systematic estimates are lacking. BS is conventionally perceived as a secondary problem that reflects rice crops that experience physiological stresses, e.g. drought and poor soil fertility, rather than a true infectious disease. Much remains to be understood about the mechanisms leading to epidemics and crop losses. Quantitative and qualitative knowledge gaps exist in our understanding of the epidemiological processes, sources of resistance and biocontrol methods. In this review we identify several of these gaps, which if filled, could lead to a strong impact on the management of brown spot. We also use the architecture of a simulation model to position and prioritize these knowledge gaps, assess the epidemiological consequences of disease management options on BS monocyclic processes and explore the impact changing production situations on this important disease.     

云梦县2005年优质稻板块基地病虫综合防治技术措施及效益分析

建设优质稻板块基地,实现农业产业化发展与集约化经营,大力提高粮食产品质量和种植效益,是云梦县近年来粮食生产发展的一项重要战略。2005年,我县优质稻板块基地建设项目实施面积1．34万hm^2,在水稻生产中具有举足轻重的地位。围绕优质稻板块基地建设,我们积极发挥植保职能作用,认真搞好病虫害预测预报,为基地建设提供决策参谋,搞好技术指导,加强协调督办,狠抓综合防治,在基地建设中起到了重要的技术保障作用。     

Evaluation of cultural practices (surface burning,deep ploughing,organic amendments) for management of rice root-knot nematode in rice - onion cropping system and their effect on onion (Allium cepa L.) yield

Rice hull burning (RHB) is a traditional cultural practice of many onion growers in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, mainly for weed control and increased yield. The resulting carbonized rice hull (ash) is incorporated into the soil during land preparation before transplanting of onion. Studies to evaluate the effect of RHB on the population of the rice root-knotnematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, and onion yield were conducted in a farmer's field naturally infested with the pathogen. Burning of 15-cm-deep rice hulls significantly reduced the nematode populations in the soil and increased onion yield. Increasing the thickness of rice hulls burned to 30 cm deep resulted in a yield increase of 44.2% over no RHB and 11.9% over 15-cm-deep rice hulls, while the yield increase with 15-cm-thick hulls was 28.8% over no RHB. Plots that received rice hulls 30 cm deep also produced 37.7% more large bulbs for export than those plots that received 15-cm-deep hulls, and 151.7% more than those plots with no RHB. Deep ploughing did not significantly affect nematode populations compared with standard ploughing. Organic amendment did not contribute to an increase in onion yield and has no effect on the population of rice root-knot nematode.     

Direct and indirect impacts of integrated pest management on pesticide use: a case of rice agriculture in Java, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Integrated pest management (IPM) technology has been disseminated since 1989 in Indonesia to cut down pesticide use, but the adoption and diffusion of the technology are still debated. This study aims to estimate the models of demand for pesticides and to analyse the impact of IPM technology on pesticide use. Aggregate cross-section time series data from 1990-1998 are used.RESULTS: The results show that IPM technology reduces the use of pesticides by improving the process of rice production, such that pesticides are more efficiently used. In this case, the IPM technology is not a pest control technique.CONCLUSION There is an indication that IPM technology has been adopted by farmers. This is evidence that the IPM programme in Indonesia was successful in this area. Copyright (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.