Articles
Study of the insecticidal efficacy of various inert dusts against the most important white cabbage pests
Article number
1427_10
Pages
73 – 84
Language
English
Abstract
In 2022 and 2023, we conducted field experiments at the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana, focusing on environmentally friendly inert dusts as alternatives to pesticides for white cabbage pest control, assessing their insecticidal properties and potential for integrated pest management (IPM). The experimental plot, spanning 240 m2, was cultivated with the ‘Sweety F1’ white cabbage variety, divided into three blocks, each hosting seven randomly assigned treatments.
These treatments included zeolite (Z), quartz sand (QS), diatomaceous earth (DE), wood ash (WA), and Ailanthus altissima leaves dust (AA), alongside positive (Karate Zeon 5 CS) and negative controls (untreated plants). Throughout the growth cycle, all plants received fungicide treatment (ORTIVA) to manage Alternaria sp.
We evaluated the efficacy of the chosen inert dusts using assessment scales from the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, recording damage indices for key white cabbage pests from May 18, 2022, to July 12, 2022, replicated six times in 2022 and five times in 2023. Results from 2022 highlighted the effectiveness of the positive control treatment in preventing damage from assessed pests (Phyllotreta spp., Eurydema spp., and various lepidopteran larvae), yielding the highest crop yield (≈1300 g per cabbage) and lowest damage indeces (around 1). Treatments with DE and WA closely followed, exhibiting satisfactory yield outcomes (DE ≈1100 g per cabbage; WA ≈800 g per cabbage) but higher damage indices (both, around 2). In 2023, we replicated the experiment with consistent findings.
The positive control treatment remained most effective, limiting damage (index under 2) and yielding 950 g per white cabbage, though less effective than in 2022. Subsequently, treatments with WA and AA showed yield results around 750 g per white cabbage and similar damage indices around 2. Further insights into the efficacy of inert dusts among white cabbage pests and their potential as pesticide alternatives will be elucidated in this study.
These treatments included zeolite (Z), quartz sand (QS), diatomaceous earth (DE), wood ash (WA), and Ailanthus altissima leaves dust (AA), alongside positive (Karate Zeon 5 CS) and negative controls (untreated plants). Throughout the growth cycle, all plants received fungicide treatment (ORTIVA) to manage Alternaria sp.
We evaluated the efficacy of the chosen inert dusts using assessment scales from the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, recording damage indices for key white cabbage pests from May 18, 2022, to July 12, 2022, replicated six times in 2022 and five times in 2023. Results from 2022 highlighted the effectiveness of the positive control treatment in preventing damage from assessed pests (Phyllotreta spp., Eurydema spp., and various lepidopteran larvae), yielding the highest crop yield (≈1300 g per cabbage) and lowest damage indeces (around 1). Treatments with DE and WA closely followed, exhibiting satisfactory yield outcomes (DE ≈1100 g per cabbage; WA ≈800 g per cabbage) but higher damage indices (both, around 2). In 2023, we replicated the experiment with consistent findings.
The positive control treatment remained most effective, limiting damage (index under 2) and yielding 950 g per white cabbage, though less effective than in 2022. Subsequently, treatments with WA and AA showed yield results around 750 g per white cabbage and similar damage indices around 2. Further insights into the efficacy of inert dusts among white cabbage pests and their potential as pesticide alternatives will be elucidated in this study.
Publication
Authors
L. Batistič, T. Bohinc, E. Indihar, M. Novljan, S. Trdan
Keywords
inert dusts, white cabbage, Phyllotreta sp., Eurydema sp., lepidopteran larvae, Thrips sp., alternative methods of control
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