Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 4 • Integrated Insect and Rodent Pests Management
Exercise No. 4.02 129
CULTIVATION AS A MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR
CROP RESIDUE- AND SOIL-INHABITING PESTS OF
ORGANICALLY-GROWN VEGETABLES
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
Cultivation to control weeds is a normal farming practice, but
it also destroys insect pests pupating in soil and exposes them
to predation. Cultivation affects a variety of insect pests that
have at least part of their development in soil. This includes
cutworms, white grubs, and grasshoppers. Effectiveness of
cultivation often depends upon soil types and local conditions.
General application is also limited because the operations
that reduce numbers of one pest may benefit other pests.
Crop rotation and cultivation are most widely used cultural
practices for pest control, although some organic vegetable
farmers do not always recognize these benefits 130 .
In the case of cutworm, larvae stay below soil surface at daytime, and become very active at night.
They inflict damage by cutting base of seedlings, as well as eating leaves of older plants. Total
larval period ranges from 20-46 days, and pupae stay several inches below soil surface from 1-8
weeks. The larvae are most abundant in moist areas; thus, thorough cultivation is one of the most
practical approaches to minimize cutworm infestation.
Many insect pests remain in seeds, stalks, or other crop residues after harvest. For example, removal
or incorporation of these residues into soil by cultivation is essential in controlling eggplant twig
and fruit borer as well as cucurbit vine borer. In the Cordilleras, many cultivation practices that
effectively manage soil-inhabiting pests continuously evolve. In FFSs, these unique experiences
must be shared among farmers to continuously adapt better cultivation practices to manage crop
residue- and soil-inhabiting pests. This exercise was designed to achieve this objective.
129 Adapted from Callo, Jr., D.P., L.B. Teofilo, and H.A. Tauli (eds). 2002. Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Vegetable IPM, Volume II. SEAMEO
Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. pp180-182.
130 Medina, J.R. 1998. As cited in: Callo, Jr., D.P., L.B. Teofilo, and H.A. Tauli (eds). 2002. Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Vegetable IPM,
Volume II. SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. 366p.
183
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and VST
sessions, when infestation
of crop residue- and
soil-inhabiting pests are
observed on organicallygrown
vegetable crops in
learning field; and
ɶ When farmers want to
learn proper cultivation
practices from other
farmers to manage
crop residue- and
soil-inhabiting pests
of organically-grown
vegetables.