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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern |
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Project Title:
Reducing Pesticide Inputs in Nurseries Using a Portable Hot Water Recirculation Immersion System |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: MD Lead Organization: University of Maryland |
| Extension Funding: $9,770 |
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Start Date: Jul-01-2004 End Date: Jun-30-2005 |
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No-Cost Extension Date: Jul-30-2006 |
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Pests Involved: insects |
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Site/Commodity: greenhouses, nursery, nurseries |
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Summary:
This project involves controlling nursery pests early in the production cycle to reduce the need for pesticide inputs. In many cases nursery managers take cuttings from stock plants that have insects and mites present, often at levels undetectable to the grower. Growers place cuttings in mist systems where pest populations can survive and continue to increase as the plants move through the production cycle. Pest populations often build to levels that require the manager to apply repeated pesticide applications to bring the pest situation under control. Our method of treating plant cutting material with hot water at set temperatures and treatment times before it is moved to the propagation stages will control several of the major pests of nursery plants. This non-chemical system will reduce the pest population and reduce the pesticide inputs needed to produce a quality nursery plant.
With a grant from the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association, we have modified Dr. Arnold Hara's basic technology to build a mobile, insulated tank with controlled hot water re-circulation system that works in temperate regions to treat pests on nursery plants at the propagation stage. We have started preliminary work with a Maryland nursery and Virginia nursery to establish what temperature and length of immersion that two species of nursery plants can tolerate without interfering with the propagation of the plant. The temperatures and length of treatment needs to be evaluated on plant material commonly grown in nurseries in the continental United States. Problem, Justification, and Background This project involves controlling nursery pests early in the production cycle to reduce the need for pesticide inputs. In many cases nursery managers take cuttings from stock plants that have insects and mites present, often at levels undetectable to the grower. Growers place cuttings in mist systems where pest populations can survive and continue to increase as the plants move through the production cycle. Pest populations often build to levels that require the manager to apply repeated pesticide applications to bring the pest situation under control. Our method of treating plant cutting material with hot water at set temperatures and treatment times before it is moved to the propagation stages will control several of the major pests of nursery plants. This non-chemical system will reduce the pest population and reduce pesticide inputs needed to produce a quality nursery plant. Although many growers are practicing IPM to some extent, chemical pesticides continue to be the primary pest control method for the ornamental industry (Hudson et al. 1996). With increasing urbanization, the demands for nursery and greenhouse commodities and for landscape management are growing a rapid rate. Thus, even if average rates of pesticide use were maintained, aggregate use can be expected to increase as the industries grow (Raupp 1995). The potential for increased pesticide use attributable to green industries if non-chemical pest management alternatives are not explored. Many nurseries start plant material as plant cuttings or divisions. If the stock plants become infested with insect pests then aggressive chemical treatment is necessary to control them. If the pests are present on the plant cutting or division then the nursery manager starts out with infested plant material that has the potential to increase to economic loss levels. Many nursery managers employ practices such as dunking plant cuttings in stock tanks with pesticides. A logical, improved, and more environmentally friendly control strategy for controlling pests in the propagation stage is greatly needed in the nursery industry. An alternative, non-chemcial control tactic was investigated at the Hilo Experiment Station in Hilo, Hawaii by Dr. Arnold and his associates. Hara has developed a simple-to-build, cost effective device that provides a non-chemical method of killing soft-bodies pests such as mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, and soft and armored scales. Hara investigated a hot water immersion system that has been used successfully in controlling root mealybug, Rhizoecus falcifer, (Hara 2000 SAF Conference), green scale, Coccus viridis (Hara et al. 1994), and Pseduaulacaspis cockerilli (Hara et al. 1993). Pest control is obtained through a hot water treatment in a standard size water trough for less than 15 minutes. The hot water treatment of plant cuttings kills pests, but the plant material Hara investigated was not harmed. With a grant from the Maryland nursery and Landscape Association, we have modified Dr. Arnold Hara's basic technology to build a mobile, insulated tank with controlled hot water re-circulation system that works in temperate regions to treat pests on nursery plants at the propagation stage. We have started preliminary work with a Maryland nursery and a Virginia nursery to establish what temperature and length of immersion that two species of nursery plants can tolerate without interfering with the propagation of the plant. The temperatures and length of treatment needs to be evaluated on additional plant material commonly grown in nurseries in the continental United States. A number of plants can be treated at one time making this method time efficient. The equipment cost is quite affordable for most nurseries and its operation appears to be quite feasible. This method of dealing with woody plant pests should be a cost-effective way to produce quality plants while maintaining a safe working environment for nursery workers. Objectives: 1. Work with Maryland nursery operations in investigating a non-chemical method of killing pests on woody and herbaceous propagation plant material. 2. Establish guidelines for optimum temperatures for several plant species that will kill insects but allow plant material to be unharmed. 3. Work with nursery plant propagators in evaluating the most effective method in using the hot water immersion system on plant material used in nursery propagation that will not damage propagation plant material but effectively kills insects. 4. Increase nursery plant propagators adoption of alternative methods to control pests as part of an IPM approach. Progress Report 2005 Final Report 2006 Highlighted in February 2008 IPM Insights |
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