Spinach

Moth larvae are a key pest of spinach crops, but some are resistant to insecticides.  We devised an Integrated Pest Management strategy that involves monitoring moth numbers, using pheromone traps, and moving crops to unaffected farms. If necessary we shift growing to late autumn and winter, when the risk of infestation is lower.

The strategy has been a success. It has resulted in a drastic reduction in the quantity of larvae found in spinach fields, and a decline in the number of fields rejected because of moth infestation.

Weeds are problematic so we have identified a number of non-chemical weed control methods that we use alongside herbicides where necessary.

We train farmers to use this system, and seek their feedback on its success. We evaluate new herbicides for effectiveness and environmental impact using the Pesticide Risk Management Tool (link to Prompt). 

Our research, done in collaboration with the Experimental Institute for Plant Nutrition in Rome, found that reducing fertilizer inputs need not affect yields. Since then the amount of potash applied has been reduced by 56%, phosphorus by 53% potassium, and nitrogen by 40%, and the average yield per hectare has increased.

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