The ASEAN-German project in cooperation with Thailand’s public and private sectors conducted field trials in two seasons (dry and wet) to test the effectiveness of a microbial, Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis, and insect-specific nematodes against flea beetle infestations in Chinese cabbage. The results showed higher income for the farmer, significantly better root growth and better marketability of cabbage compared to farming using conventional pesticides. The use of BCA also reduces risks to health and environment.
Flea beetles have been causing headaches to cabbage farmers for years. A heavy infestation can kill seedlings while moderate damage delays maturity, reduces yield and lowers crop quality making crops unmarketable. Reports indicate that larvae and adult flea beetle infestation is responsible for about 10 per cent of yield losses.
During a series of Regional Experts Meetings on Biological Control Agents organized throughout 2013, many ASEAN Member States (AMS), including Thailand expressed their interest in conducting research and demonstration trials on the application of BCA for pest management. In Thailand, Chinese cabbage was selected as a priority crop as it often becomes infested with flea beetles.
In this regard, the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN Biocontrol) project joined with Thailand’s Department of Agriculture, the Royal Project Foundation, and Thep Watana Co., Ltd., a distributor of agricultural inputs, in conducting two field trials from January to July 2014 to test the effectiveness of the microbial and nematodes against flea beetle infestations in Chinese cabbage in Thailand. This was compared with farmer’s practice using conventional pesticides and a true negative control without any pest control in a farmer’s cabbage field in Huai Pong, Chiang Rai province in the northern part of Thailand.
The results of the trials showed that only two to three biocontrol applications in comparison to six chemical sprays could effectively control flea beetles, and costs were just between 10-20% of those for conventional pest management. This demonstrates that BCA were similarly effective at a lower application rate. Besides lower input costs, Chinese cabbage under biocontrol management achieved better market prices when sold at local markets, thus delivering more economic benefits to the farmer. However, the trials also revealed that Thai cabbage farmers in this area overuse synthetic pesticides and other inputs like fertilizer to an extent that both seasons produced losses in the balance sheet of conventional farming.
The results of this field work will be helpful in developing application guidelines for environmentally friendly and safe management of this notorious insect pest in Southeast Asia.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), The ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN Biocontrol) project aims at developing of regionally coordinated policies, strategies and dialogue concepts for a sustainable agrifood sector. It also focuses on promoting sustainable production techniques and sustainable cross-border value chains while incorporating the private sector.
Contact Person: Chanatporn Limprapoowiwattana
Email: chanatporn.limprapoowiwattana@giz.de
Telephone: 02 661 9273 ext. 65
Website: www.giz.de/thailand
SOURCE GIZ
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