engleski

Research of the Potato Tuber treatment With an Integrated Agregate

A new insecticide, imidacloprid, was registered in Croatia for seed tuber treatment. The purpose of such treatment is to prevent the damages caused by soil insects as well as by Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). In order to make possible such treatment during the planting, a special equipment was constructed. The equipment was set up on the tractor. The automatic potato planter and a sprayer were connected with the tractor into an integrated agregate. In order to establish the efficacy of such device two-years investigation was carried out in 1999 and 2000. Four different treatment (untreated, all rows treated, 75% and 50% of rows treated) were randomized on 1500 sqm each. The average work speed was 4, 5 km/ha. The spray volume was 240 l/ha. No significant efficacy on wireworms and other soil insects was established. In 1999, defoliation on untreated plots was 57.6% 60 days after planting and 70% 80 days after planting. In 2000, defoliation was 27.5% 50 days after planting and 86.3% seventy days after planting. The potato leaves were protected against CPB attack 70 days after planting if all rows were treated. If 75% of rows were treated, efficacy on untreated rows lasted 50 days after planting and on treated rows 70 days after planting, and, if 50% of rows were treated, efficacy on untreated rows lasted 50 days and on treated rows 60 days after planting with an average of 55 days. The obtained yields on treated plots in 1999 were significantly higher ( between 25 and 32 t/ha) than on untreated plots (18t/ha). The obtained yields in 2000 were also significantly higher (between 20 and 40 t/ha) than on untreated plots (12t/ha)..The use of the imidacloprid based insecticide by constructed equipment, ensured very good results. Integrated agregate provided good quality of tubers treatment with minimal risk for workers. Integrated agregate is easy to adapt on each type of tractor with minimal expenses and it is applicable for Croatian conditions.

potato tuber treatment; Colorado Potato Beetle; integrated agregate; imidacloprid

nije evidentirano