Articles
THE APPLE CIPRA NETWORK IN CANADA: USING REAL-TIME WEATHER INFORMATION TO FORECAST APPLE PHENOLOGY, INSECTS, DISEASES AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Article number
803_2
Pages
29 – 34
Language
English
Abstract
Every year, apples are affected by insects, diseases and physiological disorders in storage.
Due to relatively high climate variability in eastern Canada, severity of damages varies from year to year and often control strategies are applied without considering this variability.
With increasing concerns about production costs, food safety and protection of the environment, more appropriate timing of pesticide applications is required.
In the mid 1990s, the CIPRA (Computer Centre for Agricultural Pest Forecasting) software was conceptualised, developed and implemented to access, in real time, weather data from a network of automated stations.
It allows the user to visualise forecasts for 13 insects, two diseases, two storage disorders, and apple phenology.
These bioclimatic models, which were developed, implemented and improved over the last 13 years, vary from simple degree-days approach based on air temperature to more detailed epidemiological models based on air temperature, relative humidity and duration of leaf wetness.
All models use the same quality controlled weather database and weather forecasts.
This effort to centralize several pest models within the same system makes it easier for the users because they have to learn only one system.
Furthermore, the integration of new pest models and new crops is greatly improved because existing models and crops can be used as templates for the new ones.
Many field specialists are using the model forecasts along with field pest scouting to provide valuable additional information for decision-making in pest management and in apple storage strategies.
For scientists, this tool allows a more rapid technology transfer and offers standards for the development of future models.
Due to relatively high climate variability in eastern Canada, severity of damages varies from year to year and often control strategies are applied without considering this variability.
With increasing concerns about production costs, food safety and protection of the environment, more appropriate timing of pesticide applications is required.
In the mid 1990s, the CIPRA (Computer Centre for Agricultural Pest Forecasting) software was conceptualised, developed and implemented to access, in real time, weather data from a network of automated stations.
It allows the user to visualise forecasts for 13 insects, two diseases, two storage disorders, and apple phenology.
These bioclimatic models, which were developed, implemented and improved over the last 13 years, vary from simple degree-days approach based on air temperature to more detailed epidemiological models based on air temperature, relative humidity and duration of leaf wetness.
All models use the same quality controlled weather database and weather forecasts.
This effort to centralize several pest models within the same system makes it easier for the users because they have to learn only one system.
Furthermore, the integration of new pest models and new crops is greatly improved because existing models and crops can be used as templates for the new ones.
Many field specialists are using the model forecasts along with field pest scouting to provide valuable additional information for decision-making in pest management and in apple storage strategies.
For scientists, this tool allows a more rapid technology transfer and offers standards for the development of future models.
Authors
G. Bourgeois, D. Plouffe, G. Chouinard, N. Beaudry, D. Choquette, O. Carisse, J. DeEll
Keywords
Malus pumila, bioclimatic models, modelling, degree-days, pest
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