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

Section 4 • Integrated Insect and Rodent Pests Management
Exercise No. 4.08 143
SANITATION PRACTICES FOR MANAGEMENT OF
POD BORERS, LEAF-MINERS, AND LEAF-FOLDERS IN
ORGANICALLY-GROWN VEGETABLES
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
One of the most practical approaches to pest management
is good cultural control, specifically sanitation. Sanitation
is aimed at reducing exposure of crops to pest infestation.
For some organic vegetable pests, such as pod borers, leaf
miners, and leaf folders, a primary objective of sanitation
is prevention of pest build-up and not total destruction of
existing or damaging pest populations 144 . Proper disposal
of crop residues, which may serve as breeding places for
pests, is a good way of preventing build-up of these pests.
Elimination of crop residues after harvest destroys pests and
prevents carry-over to next crop.
There are several sanitation practices commonly employed to control pod borers, leafminers, and
leaf folders in organic vegetable production. These are: (1) roguing of host weeds and plants at
earlier stages of growth; (2) removal of infested leaves and fruits at later growth stages; (3) proper
disposal of rogued plants, removed leaves or fruits and other crop residues by burying, burning, etc.;
and (4) plowing under of infested crop residues immediately after harvest 145 .
Many farmers in the Cordilleras had adapted better sanitation practices to control pod borers,
leafminers, and leaf folders in organically-grown vegetables through time. These practices, when
shared with others in FFSs, will result in much improved sanitation practices. The foregoing
exercise was designed primarily to address this concern.
143 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. pp205-207.
144 Cardona, Jr. E.V. 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.
145 Bautista, O.K. (ed). 1994. Introduction to Tropical Horticulture. 2 nd Edition, SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture
and University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines. pp369-371.
205
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and VST
sessions, when there are
infestation of pod borers,
leafminers, and leaf
folders on organicallygrown
vegetables in
learning field; and
ɶ When farmers want
to learn innovative
sanitation practices
from others to control
pod borers, leafminers,
and leaf folders of
organically-grown
vegetables.