[Edited_by_A._Ciancio,_C.N.R.,_Bari,_Italy_and_K.(Bookos.org)

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INTEGRATION OF INSECT AND MITE
MANAGEMENT WITH DISEASE AND WEED
CONTROL IN PECAN PRODUCTION
JAMES D. DUTCHER 1 , LENNY WELLS 2 , TIMOTHY B.
BRENNEMAN 3 AND MICHAEL G. PATTERSON 4
1 Entomology Department, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, USA
2 Horticulture Department, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, USA
3 Plant Pathology Department, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, USA
4 Department of Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
Abstract. Pecan orchards in the southeastern US are managed to conserve resources, protect the fruit and
foliage from injury caused by phytophagous insects, mites, and pecan scab, and remove competition from weeds
during the establishment of newly planted trees and in the preparation of the orchard floor as a harvesting
surface. Costs associated with pest control are significant each year and the growers use integrated pest
management methods to increase the effectiveness of pesticide treatments and reduce control costs. A
coordinated research and extension effort over the past 25 years in entomology, plant pathology, weed science
and horticulture has reduced the amount of pesticide use by 35%. Four advances have been responsible for the
reduction. First, pecan scab sprays are reduced by linking the frequency of applications to the climatic conditions
and the cultivar susceptibiltiy. Second, pest-specific insecticides that are toxic to the pests and not toxic to
beneficial insects and mites are used to control lepidopterous pests and conserve aphidophagous insects and mite
predators. Third, cover crops have been developed to supplement the soil with nitrogen and organic matter and
conserve beneficial insects. Fourth, weed studies have led to the elimination of weeds in the first 8 years after
planting around young trees, chemical mowing methods in established orchards and selective grass control to
increase the growth of clover cover crops. The development and implementation of these and other significant
advances in pecan management are reviewed in this chapter.
1. PESTS IMPEDE THE VERSATILITY OF THE PECAN TREE
Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch, Fagales: Juglandaceae] is a large
tree that is native to the United States and Mexico and is propagated as a shade tree,
for timber and for the production of nuts. Although this chapter describes the recent
integration of pest control methods in pecans grown for nut production pest
problems arise in shade and timber trees as well. As a shade tree in the southern US,
pecan has multiple problems and is not recommended for planting (Finch, 2001).
However, existing trees are rarely removed and replaced by homeowners or city
133
A. Ciancio, K.G. Mukerji (eds.), Integrated Management of Arthropod Pests
and Insect Borne Diseases, Integrated Management of Plant Pests and Diseases 5,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-8606-8_6, © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010