WVU Organic Research Project
1. Orchard pest management - operation of pheromone and visual traps for monitoring of activity periods of pests of apple. Evaluating foliage and fruit damage throughout the season. Experimental application and evaluation of two organically approved insecticides (Envirepel and Surround WP) for suppression of apple pests.
2. Squash pest management - comparison of plant viability and longevity and fruit production of zucchini managed only through use of mulches and row covers. Four treatments are compared: floating row covered plants with straw mulch or buckwheat hull mulch; and no row covers, with straw or buckwheat mulch. Insect pests of interest are striped cucumber beetle, squash bug, and squash vine borer
3. Potato pest management - in small plots, comparing efficacy of Surround WP or Valoram against untreated controls to suppress potato leafhopper and Colorado potato beetle.
4. Attraction of beneficial predatory and parasitic insects to nectar/pollen plants. Within subplots of three small plots, we seeded buckwheat, white mustard, coriander and flax. Predatory and parasitic insects visiting the flowers are monitored, counted, and some are collected for species identification and voucher specimens.
5. All market garden and small farm crops are monitored for insect pest presence and damage. Organically approved insecticides have been applied as needed. A treatment of insecticidal soap spray was applied early season to the spinach for suppression of garden springtail. Regular spray schedules are being maintained with neem for striped cucumber beetle on squash and Surround WP for potato leafhopper and Colorado potato beetle suppression on small farm potatoes.
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Updated
03/31/01
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